Affective Bonds: Topophilia and Tuan’s Enduring Legacy

Abstract

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Yi-Fu Tuan’s first major book, Topophilia: A Study of Environmental Perception, Attitudes, and Values. In very many ways it is a book marked by the specific moment of his emergence, which shapes both its contributions and its limitations. Although the language of Topophilia is antiquated at times, many of its core themes retain their salience.

Fundamentally, Topophilia uses three elements—perception, attitude, and world view—to think through the relationship between humans and the environment.