Fighting forces: Bachelard and Nietzsche in Éric Dardel’s geography

Abstract

Since the publication of the Portuguese translation of O Homem e a Terra: natureza da realidade geográfica, by French geographer Éric Dardel, in 2011, the book has had a rapid diffusion among the geographical community. The multiple philosophical influences that make up Dardelian geography is one of the most exciting issues opened for investigation. Although his work is recognized as of Heideggerian inspiration, we argue that his phenomenological-existential geography also suffered strong influences of Bachelard’s phenomenology of imagination. Furthermore, weal so defend that the principle of “fighting forces”, which characterizes the dynamism of Dardel's geographic reality, stems from fundamental notions of Friedrich W. Nietzsche's philosophy, via Bachelard. In the interpretative effort expressed in this work, the encounter between Dardel and Nietzsche has been established, indirectly, through the senses of earth and the will to power. The purpose of this paper is to pursue these clues and links, seeking to enrich the contemporary readings and openings offered by Dardelian geography.