Borders. Dwelling in the Borders

Abstract

In the light of philosophical, anthropological and psychiatric theories, the present contribution aims to explore the theme of borders, within both the mind and the material world, with particular attention to the interaction between men and space, to relationships, to autonomy and to the way borders are “dwelled’’. A transdisciplinary approach has been chosen, which reflects a precise epistemological position. While avoiding dangerous syncretisms and maintaining the necessary theoretical rigor, a reflection will be carried out about the need to observe reality trough a systemic, complex, ecological approach. An approach that welcomes the contributions of dreams, art and emotions as helps to pure rationality, in order to understand the deep interconnected world nature. In fact, the ecology of mind proposed by Gregory Bateson was an epistemological revolution that led thinkers and clinicians towards a systemic, interconnected vision of reality, according to which relationships come first, precede, are inevitable and ineludible. Together with dwelling, they are the way we are in the world with others. This aesthetic vision has very important ethical implications to anyone, whether a therapist or a designer, who deals with human beings and their dwelled physical and relational spaces.