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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Embodied Communication, Sensed Atmospheres, Joint Situations...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(12); 1720; doi: 10.3390/ani14121720

Embodied Communication, Sensed Atmospheres, Joint Situations: Human-Horse Encounters from a Neophenomenological Perspective.

Abstract: This article shows that the German philosopher Hermann Schmitz's new phenomenology can make a valuable contribution to human-animal studies. The three concepts suitable for this purpose are, first, Schmitz's concept of embodied communication, which can be applied to trans-species encounters; second, his understanding of atmospheres, which are always co-communicated in trans-species encounters; and, third, his conception of situation, which can help with analyzing the relationship of society to animals. My contribution applies these three basic elements of new phenomenology-embodied communication, atmosphere, and situation-to the analysis of the encounters between humans and horses. This paper demonstrates that embodied communication in particular is not only a worthwhile object of research but can also serve as a mode of producing scientific insight.
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Publication Date: 2024-06-07 PubMed ID: 38929339PubMed Central: PMC11200941DOI: 10.3390/ani14121720Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This article explores how Hermann Schmitz’s new phenomenology can enhance the study of human-animal interactions.
  • It specifically applies three key concepts—embodied communication, atmospheres, and situations—to understand encounters between humans and horses.

Introduction to New Phenomenology and Its Relevance

  • Hermann Schmitz, a German philosopher, developed a new form of phenomenology that focuses on lived experiences and bodily presence.
  • This approach differs from classical phenomenology by emphasizing sensory and affective dimensions rather than purely conceptual analysis.
  • The article argues that Schmitz’s phenomenology is particularly useful for studying human-animal relationships because it attends to embodied and atmospheric aspects of interaction.

Key Concepts from Schmitz’s New Phenomenology

  • Embodied Communication: A foundational concept which highlights communication that is not just verbal or intellectual but deeply rooted in bodily presence and movement. This form of communication transcends species boundaries and is significant in trans-species encounters like human-horse interactions.
  • Atmospheres: These refer to the ever-present, shared emotional and sensory moods or feelings that permeate interactions and environments. Atmospheres are co-experienced and co-communicated, shaping the quality of encounters beyond words or gestures.
  • Situations: This concept pertains to the broader social and environmental contexts within which interactions occur. Situations help analyze how the societal relationship toward animals is constructed and understood.

Application to Human-Horse Encounters

  • The paper applies the three concepts to encounters between humans and horses, which are rich contexts for embodied communication.
  • Embodied communication in these encounters involves subtle bodily signals, movements, and mutual responsiveness that are otherwise difficult to capture with traditional research methods.
  • Atmospheres in these interactions create a felt environment or mood that both humans and horses share, influencing behavior and emotional connection.
  • The notion of situation situates these encounters within larger societal frameworks, emphasizing how cultural understandings of horses and animals shape these meetings.

Significance and Contributions

  • The study shows that focusing on embodied communication opens up new avenues for scientific inquiry into interspecies relations.
  • It highlights the importance of non-verbal, affective, and sensory dimensions in understanding human-animal encounters.
  • By integrating atmospheric and situational analyses, the research situates individual encounters within broader social and environmental contexts.
  • This approach offers a richer, more nuanced understanding of human-horse interactions, which can inform animal studies, ethics, and interdisciplinary research.

Conclusion

  • Schmitz’s new phenomenology provides valuable conceptual tools that enhance the study of human-animal relationships.
  • Embodied communication, atmospheres, and situations together provide a comprehensive framework for analyzing and understanding the complexity of human-horse encounters.
  • The article advocates for utilizing this phenomenological approach as a productive method for generating scientific knowledge in human-animal studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Pütz R. (2024). Embodied Communication, Sensed Atmospheres, Joint Situations: Human-Horse Encounters from a Neophenomenological Perspective. Animals (Basel), 14(12), 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14121720

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 12
PII: 1720

Researcher Affiliations

Pütz, Robert
  • Goethe University Frankfurt, 60626 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

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