Ryan Wilson, Topos & Chora

I was surprised to read that the concepts of topos and chora were both emphasized by Aristotle and Plato, respectively. Apparently, Aristotle understood topos as more representative of the concept of physical location, in a geographic sense. Plato rather understood some places, or chora, as “carrying its own energy and power.” I believe that any understanding of place as chora is rather an emotional reaction to what the eye sees at a given location, as I stated in my paper. Instead, I understand place with an understanding much like Aristotle, as topos. There are certainly places that are of emotional value to me, but I do not translate that emotional value into any logical procession that the places themselves must have their own energy. I do not see any evidence to believe that there is some inherent energy at particular places. Those who believe to feel a connection of the likes of chora confuse their emotional reactions with places that are of significant value to them.