French
philosopher of
science and
phenomenologist Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962) trained originally as a
scientist and as a
philosopher, before developing a strong interest in
phenomenology and the
theory of the
imagination. The seeds of his subsequent
theorization can be found in his early work on the
philosophy of science. Bachelard stressed the
dialectical relationship between
rationalism (
the world of thinking) and
realism (
the empirical world). Critical of the
Cartesian drive towards
simplicity, he emphasized instead
complexity. In this Bachelard was heavily influenced by
psychoanalysis and
surrealism. He developed the concept of '
surrationalism', by which he sought to reinvigorate our
understanding of the
rational, by emphasizing the
complexity of its
material situation, rather as surrealism sought to invigorate realism by playing upon
the dream world. In his later work, the influence of psychoanalysis and the role of the imagination became
increasingly dominant.
Information courtesy of Rethinking Architecture, ed. Neil Leach
See also: Poetics of Space This is Bachelard's most well-known and influential work, and a very good read as well.