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This chapter is interested in exploring whether philosophical understandings of authenticity are applicable to Western conceptualisation of heritage, from physical sites (tangible) to social practices (intangible). In viewing heritage as a dynamic process, the author argues that the concept of genius loci (or spirit of place) is the most logical theoretical framework to accommodate these shifting understandings of authenticity and heritage. Moreover, by moving beyond anthropomorphised and material-centred themes and focussing instead on participation, locus and action, building conservation can explore the dynamics between materials and meanings in order to work towards a more performative interpretation of historic building authenticity

This paper situates the concept of library as place in its broader context of relevant theory and research in a number of fields, primarily psychology, neurology, geography, philosophy, and architecture. The term “place” is defined, its powers described, and its role in library administration and design thus revealed to be one of very considerable significance at the highest levels of library mission in any setting.

This chapter bridges theories of product development in tourism destinations with the analytical concept of genius loci (‘the spirit of a place’) used in writings on architecture and design. Assuming that spatial and symbolic uniqueness are critical ingredients to create attractive tourism experiences, the chapter proposes a schematic process for atmospheric interventions. Atmospheric interventions are presented as a technique which, first, understands the essential role of atmospheric contexts for tourism experiences; second, conceives transformations of atmospheres in a manner that take their complex nature into account; and third, sees value in respecting and enhancing the traditioned character of places and their atmospheres. Overall, this chapter suggests preference for a humble and careful approach of atmospheric interventions over decontextualised attempts to redesign atmospheres from scratch.

The chapter depicts the potential place of the spirit of non-violence and the spirit of peace in social affairs and economic circumstances. It deals with the approach of Mahatma Gandhi to non-violence and the approach of Saint Francis of Assisi to noble poverty, simplicity and peace as one of the great inspirations to Gandhi. These two concepts are closely interrelated, as they have analogous aspects in theory and practice. Both of them seem suitable to be used as the main characteristics of dealing with social and ecological problems.

The following part of the chapter describes the life and the credo of Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing the importance of non-violence, an alternative approach to deal with emerging social difficulties. After it, the chapter presents the life and the philosophy of Saint Francis of Assisi and how Gandhi was inspired by him. It emphasizes the importance of peace, noble poverty, simplicity and their spirit in ecological and social affairs. The chapter then presents non-violence and poverty as spiritual notions and shows intermediary concepts and examples of feasible business models by which they could be applied in economic practices. Non-violence and peace can be the spirit of business strategies, and they have the potential to transform modern economic practices into a more humanistic and sustainable form.

The general topic of spirituality and the ways in which spirituality in organizations was studied and reported on have received mixed reactions (ranging from positive to puzzled to skeptical to negative) from sc’Moi participants, many of whom were European critical management theorists, and management researchers in other divisions when the Management Spirituality and Religion group was started at the Academy of Management. In this chapter I examine how these management research differences in approaches to ontology and epistemology were influenced by the philosophical approaches of Hegel and Marx, and how similar differences also influenced psychological research, whose approach to research and research methodology forms the basis of much management research. I will examine how these contrasting beliefs have played out and continue to play out in such seemingly diverse but really similar subjects of inquiry as philosophy (e.g., Hegel vs Marx), psychology (e.g., introspection vs behaviorism), and management studies (e.g., management organization inquiry vs critical management). I examine what these approaches have in common, how, in my opinion, the behaviorists have so far prevailed, and why they have so far prevailed; I conclude with suggestions for how ongoing dialectics between the seven Ss (the seven themes elaborated on in this book – storytelling, system, sustainability, science, spirit, spirals, and sociomateriality) can help contribute to the field of spirituality in management, and how spirituality research can contribute and interact with the other themes to the future of management and organizational inquiry.

Although tourism destination image is a widely studied subject, the perspective of local players is generally neglected, albeit its relevance for informing the positioning and brand management strategies of the places is recognized. This chapter aims to determine the perceptions of key local public organizations from the historical-cultural and heritage sectors and companies linked to commerce and tourism (private sector) about the historic center of a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in Brazil. The results of this investigation contribute to the development of marketing and tourism development strategies in historic towns, especially those classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

When researching the role of microentrepreneurship in equitable and sustainable development, the question of how tourism microentrepreneurs forge relationships between place, community, and resources is significant. Two case studies from CREATOUR, a project investigating creative tourism, a novel type of cultural tourism that includes active participation in creative activities and connection to place, examines how these relationships are developed and implemented. Findings indicate that creative tourism microentrepreneurial activities in two small cities are being shaped by, and shaping, place in multifaceted ways. Creative tourism activities stimulate new perspectives on place, are designed synergistically with the “seasonal” fluctuations of the type of visitors, are embedded in personal networks of collaborators, and actively encourage alternative patterns of tourism consumption.