Chris Philo
Encyclopedia
Chris Philo is Professor of Geography
at the Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences, the University of Glasgow
.
Philo graduated from the Sidney Sussex College of Cambridge University
and became a Research Fellow there. In 1989 he joined the Department of Geography at the University of Wales, Lampeter
, holding that post for six years, until 1995. He then joined the University of Glasgow
as a Professor, becoming head of the department in 2002. In 2006 Chris was replaced as Head of Department by Professor Trevor Hoey and was enlisted on the Geography and Environmental Studies RAE Sub-Panel.
Traditionally his interests have been in the historical geographies of 'madness' and mental health
and mental health care provision. Later, he dabbled in the emerging, and increasingly significant, sub-discipline of animal geographies
. A devotee of the work of Michel Foucault
, his research extended and localised Foucault's history of madness to England and Wales. Over a decade in the writing his major work was published by a minor press in Wales as A Geographical History of Institutional Provision for the Insane from Medieval Times to the 1860s in England and Wales: The Space Reserved for Insanity. Always a generous collaborator, he has co-edited numerous general anthologies of human geography
. Most recently, he has examined, with Eric Laurier, cafe culture in Glasgow
.
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
at the Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences, the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Philo graduated from the Sidney Sussex College of Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and became a Research Fellow there. In 1989 he joined the Department of Geography at the University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
, holding that post for six years, until 1995. He then joined the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
as a Professor, becoming head of the department in 2002. In 2006 Chris was replaced as Head of Department by Professor Trevor Hoey and was enlisted on the Geography and Environmental Studies RAE Sub-Panel.
Traditionally his interests have been in the historical geographies of 'madness' and mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
and mental health care provision. Later, he dabbled in the emerging, and increasingly significant, sub-discipline of animal geographies
Animal geographies
Animal geographies is an area of study in geography, studying the spaces and places occupied by animals in human culture.An interest in animal geographies emerged in human geography in the mid 1990s...
. A devotee of the work of Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault , born Paul-Michel Foucault , was a French philosopher, social theorist and historian of ideas...
, his research extended and localised Foucault's history of madness to England and Wales. Over a decade in the writing his major work was published by a minor press in Wales as A Geographical History of Institutional Provision for the Insane from Medieval Times to the 1860s in England and Wales: The Space Reserved for Insanity. Always a generous collaborator, he has co-edited numerous general anthologies of human geography
Human geography
Human geography is one of the two major sub-fields of the discipline of geography. Human geography is the study of the world, its people, communities, and cultures. Human geography differs from physical geography mainly in that it has a greater focus on studying human activities and is more...
. Most recently, he has examined, with Eric Laurier, cafe culture in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Partial bibliography
- Philo, C. 2004. A Geographical History of Institutional Provision for the Insane from Medieval Times to the 1860s in England and Wales: The Space Reserved for Insanity. Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston and Queenston, USA, and Lampeter, Wales, UK (712 pages)
- Cloke, P., Cook, I., Crang, P., Goodwin, M., Painter, J., Philo, C. 2004. Practising Human Geography. Sage, London (416 pages)
- Philo, C. 2004. 'Michel Foucault'. In Hubbard, P., Kitchin, R. and Valentine, G. (eds) Key Thinkers on Space and Place. Sage, London, 121-128
- Laurier, E, Philo, C. 2004. 'Ethnoarchaeology and undefined investigations'. Environment and Planning A, v.36, 421-436
- Philo, C. & Wilbert, C. 2000. Animal Spaces, Beastly Places, New Geographies of Human-Animal Relations, Routledge, London
- Philo C, 1995, "Animals, geography, and the city: notes on inclusions and exclusions" Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 13(6) 655 – 681
- Philo C, 1992, "Foucault's geography" Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 10(2) 137 – 161