Ecological representation in deliberation: the contribution of tactile spaces

Deliberation must involve more than simply articulating and defending one's values and knowledge claims. Also important is the ability to experience those claims directly. Attention must thus be paid to creating spaces that are not only deliberative but also tactile, so individuals can experience for themselves the phenomena around which knowledge claims are being made. This becomes particularly important in environmental conflicts, given that they often involve objects/processes that are epistemologically removed from our lived worlds. To inform this argument, the case of a non-profit seed bank, where just such a tactile space has been created, is examined.