Human space
Humans live in a space, namely our space of humanity. Nobody can
survive without being refreshed there, without nourishing themselves there,
breathing there. Not only physically!
Human space is beyond the space of the geometrician. It is not abstract and
empty but concretely filled with human possibilities and human dynamics.
Nevertheless modern geometry can help to give us an image of it. The concept of
‘curvature’ is here particularly relevant.
We know
that the Euclidian geometry has a curvature of zero. Parallels will never meet.
From a point taken out of a straight line you can draw one parallel and only
one.
The `curvature' of modern space, is obviously
'positive'. The parallels always meet. From a point taken out of the immanence
no prospect is possible which does not converge finally towards the immanence.
A world sums up in immanent enclosure. And this total sum is always larger than…
Another human space, so to speak more on the side of Lobatchev’s geometry, will
interest us more particularly. There, the parallels, far from meeting, rather
tend to open. From a point taken out of the immanence, another line, of many
same vectors, can run ad infinitum. The sum of the total is never as large,
often smaller, than Totality.
Human
space has an ‘outside’ and an ‘inside’, qualitatively different. Inside the
dynamics of thought and action tend to converge in a kind of field of
gravitation. Outside these same dynamics diverge in an infinite opening. But
the outside does not invite to residence. It calls for adventure!
The human space exists each time as a unique specific space of the human reality
as made up in such an area of the world and at such a time of history. A space of
the culture made up with its specificities and its originality. A space of the reason
made up with its epistemological and pragmatic possibilities and impossibilities.
A space of the word made up through philosophies and the letters. A space of
the knowledge made up through sciences and the myths. A space of the
sensitivity made up through arts, modes, seductions… A space of constructions. A
space of innovations. A space of emergences. A space of declines. A space of techniques.
A space of networks and communications. A space of confrontations. A space of
Eros. A space for beliefs. A space for dreams. A space for projects. A space of
values. A space for Utopias…
Each human space - be it personal, social or cultural - integrates and excludes.
It integrates what is compatible with its preconditions. It excludes what
refuses this integration. Between this integration and this exclusion it plays
its originality. Tell me what you include and what you exclude and I will tell
you who you are.
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