Topology and Topophilia: Bachelardian Space Between Philosophy and Poetics

Bachelard’s philosophical analysis overcomes the naïve concept of space as a uniform extension, and analyses its mathematical properties, thanks to scientific speculation; while it makes use of poetical reflection to describe its emotional properties. Le Rationalisme appliqué (1949) propose the famous “table” providing the theoretical coordinates of “applied rationalism and technical materialism”, and they reconsider some traditional categories and philosophical movements. Bachelard refers to this table as a “philosophical topology”, using a problematic definition which has been widely discussed and criticized. This contribution attempts a clarification of this “philosophical topology”, by examining some aspects of its genesis, and pointing out how Bachelard, consistently with his theoretical statements, does not simply carry out a reflection on space through philosophy. Indeed, he also considers the other side of the question, proving that mathematical knowledge may affect the understanding of philosophy.