ABSTRACT
Home is understood as an irrational value-sphere. Following Weber’s theory, it provides an internal cosmos of meaning that provides salvation from the dominant rationalised spheres of the economy, politics and science/intellectual reason. Using additional Weberian ideas, this internal cosmos is conceptualised as both personal and traditional, in contrast to all the other external value-spheres. Literary examples from Charles Dickens are used to illustrate the argument. In this way, home is shown to be a space of never-ending leaving and return. Further understanding is gained through consideration of the classical Greek tales of Antigone and Odysseus via the philosophies of Hegel and Adorno. Here the disenchanted history of the West is shown to retain a remnant of its enchanted origins as home.
