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Palgrave Macmillan

Theorizing Outdoor Recreation and Ecology

  • Book
  • © 2015

Overview

Authors:
  1. Sean Ryan

    1. University of Alberta, Canada

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Part of the book series: Leisure Studies in a Global Era (LSGE)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
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  2. Introduction

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 1-21

  3. Discourse and Power in Outdoor Recreation

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 22-52

  4. Humans and Nature

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 53-78

  5. Tracing and Haunting Humans and/in Nature

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 79-98

  6. The Nature of Paradoxes/the Natural Paradox

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 99-124

  7. Paradoxical Outdoor Recreation

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 125-149

  8. Conclusion

    • Sean Ryan
    Pages 150-159

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 160-189
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Keywords

About this book

Deciding what user impacts are natural or unnatural has inspired much debate. Biophysically, moose cause similar kinds of soil and vegetation impacts as hikers. Yet moose are the sign of nature while hikers are the sign of damage. The field of outdoor recreation is beset with paradoxes, and this book presents a unique, alternative framework to address these dilemmas. Examining outdoor recreation through the lens of ecological theory, Ryan draws from theorists such as Foucault, Derrida and Latour. The book explores minimum impact strategies designed to protect and enhance ecological integrity, but that also require a disturbing amount of policing of users, which runs counter to the freedom users seek. Recent ecological theory suggests that outdoor recreation's view of nature as balanced when impacts are removed is outdated and incorrect. What is needed, and indeed Ryan presents, is a paradoxical and ecological view of humans as neither natural nor unnatural, a view that embraces some traces in nature.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Alberta, Canada

    Sean Ryan

About the author

Sean Ryan is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at University of Alberta, Canada. He has worked as a wilderness guide, which culminated in a 70-day, 2500km canoe trip.

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