Philosophy and design in landscape architecture

This thesis is a critical enquiry which demonstrates the importance of philosophy, ethics and aesthetics to the education and practice of landscape architecture. The thesis adopts the premise that landscape architecture is an act of mediation between culture and nature and proposes a 'way of thinking or viewing' the discipline which could provide alternatives to current educational approaches.By situating many issues concerning landscape architecture within a hermeneutic /neo- pragmatic approach, a more comprehensive understanding of the discipline and its potential to shape environments may occur.The thesis argues that a critical understanding of not only the discipline but also 'culture' and 'nature' is required to prepare landscape architects to lead in the collaborative, creative exercise of seeking solutions to problems that may enable people to 'dwell' in places that are appropriate now. It is contended that a shift in current priorities is therefore required to ensure that the education of a landscape architect in the university comprises the development of critical understanding as much as technical competence