Friluftsliv: the almost nearly perfect concept

Area of Science:

• Environmental Humanities
• Leisure Studies
• Cultural Geography

Background:

• English-language scholarship frequently idealizes Norwegian friluftsliv as a simple, healthy, low-impact relationship with nature.
• This idealized portrayal was challenged, initiating a scholarly debate on the concept's theoretical foundations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the theoretical underpinnings of friluftsliv.
• To provide a more nuanced understanding of the concept and its diverse interpretations.
• To explore the evolution and contemporary challenges associated with friluftsliv.

Main Methods:

• Critical dialogue methodology, utilizing an extended written debate between scholars.
• The debate focused on five key critiques of the idealized friluftsliv concept.
• Analysis of the scholarly literature on friluftsliv.

Main Results:

• The English-language literature presents a romanticized and idealized view of friluftsliv.
• Three historical phases of friluftsliv reveal evolving meanings over time.
• Friluftsliv is increasingly recognized as multifaceted and difficult to define, with growing awareness of associated inequalities and environmental impacts.

Conclusions:

• The idealized image of friluftsliv in English scholarship requires critical re-evaluation.
• Understanding the historical context and diverse meanings of friluftsliv is crucial.
• Friluftsliv, like other outdoor activities, must confront issues of sustainability, equity, and consumption.