Panrelations and Vocabularies on the Way to a Neopragmatist Synthesis for Social and Spatial Sciences

This book presents neopragmatism as a fresh theoretical framework for the social and spatial sciences. Instead of relying on fixed truths or rigid subject-object divisions, it moves beyond traditional theoretical oppositions. At its core, the book applies Richard Rorty's vocabulary theory and a panrelationalist perspective, viewing the world as a dynamic network of relations shaped through language. This approach is enriched by insights from discourse theory, conflict theory, and actor-network theory, offering a comprehensive lens for understanding social and spatial phenomena. Concepts like landscape, region, or city are treated as contingent and contested constructions, rather than stable categories. The framework is tested through case studies on biography construction and landscape conflicts, demonstrating how it captures complexity and provides practical tools for addressing social issues.

The book is intended for readers seeking both theoretical depth and practical applicability in fields such as sociology, philosophy, geography, political science, and interdisciplinary studies of society and space.

Dr. Dr. Olaf Kühne is Professor of Urban and Regional Development in the Department of Geography and the Institute of Political Science at the University of Tübingen, Germany.

Dr. Karsten Berr is a research associate at the Chair of Urban and Regional Development at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany.

Dr. Petra Lohmann is Professor of Architectural Theory and Philosophy of Architecture at the University of Siegen, Germany.

Dr. Kai Schuster is Professor of Sociology, Social Psychology, and Architectural Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany.