Recent Trends In Geographical Thought And Method

Introduction

Geography term is derived from the Greek word where “geo” means earth and “graphics” means descriptions and geography thought it means description of human geography, geographical thought is a discipline which encompasses the development of geographic knowledge in particular places, times, and context. Geography, an integrated discipline of study encompasses its range over a large variety of subject inclusive of various disciplines in different forms of research method rooted in description, spatial analysis, interpretation and dominant use of statistic. Through the expansion in the human knowledge and technologies, geography eventually has undergone a huge phase of transformation towards the understanding, implementation and application of geographical methods.

All the above mentioned points signifies that the discipline of geography both fall under natural and social science. Geography along with its relevance to scientific method has evidence of first used approach of debate by Socrates which involved both the inductive and deductive method, further enhanced the various analysis of region and human’s settlement. This has further expanded the scope of study in geography into the various branches of trend of structuralism, humanism and positivism. In the course of time, this has been progressing based on different intellects transcending the research based method by applying all the integrated studies with different process and strategies. Once geography is said to be a descriptive geography where it was concerned on literature description where it was not concerned with uses of statistical and mathematical method, which lead to quantitative revolution of geography.

The earlier methods of geography were inclusive of Socratic way of understanding the truth Socrates was an Athenian philosopher who had a scholar called Plato who propounded the deductive method. The inductive and deductive methods are interdependent for providing the geographical information; the first process involved inductive method that generates s theories from existing data. It moves from individual study to generalization of facts. It was forwarded by the great Greek geographer and mathematician, Aristotle who held the mathematical school that only focused on deriving numeric data with no or less description. It led to the regional geography that studies only one place at a time trying to establish the connection between the natural and cultural geographic factor. Inductive method in its discipline and the syntax led to a real differentiation that included the consideration of generalized, major facts.

Deductive method was solely based on specification of generalized hypothesis done through descriptions of different features element, and characteristic. It belongs to literary school of thought. Deductive method gives birth to quantitative revolution which had immense application of numeric data used in census and survey. As deductive method held comparison observed facts there was a possibility of construction of theories which brought specific conclusion. Deductive method incorporates the analysis of region through providing of accurate information. It combines nomothetic method that focused on several of observable facts that provided the platform for construction of theory using quantitative research. It led to systematic approach extended on numerous political boundaries from which interpretive and analytic element are derived from generalized information. It led to the foundation of areal integrity by Pettar Hejerd who stated areal differentiation has failed to answer the call of integrity (considered minority). It didn’t have a place for explanation due to generalization.

Quantitative revolution

The problem of generalization and theory-building was extended for more than two hundred years. Before geography was consider to be a description of earth surface but in due course of time and its definition and nature change. After Second World War there was a realization of importance of using mathematical language in study of geography which leads to evolution of quantitative revolution in geography. Quantitative revolution is concerned with providing accurate, orderly and rational description of the earth using statistical and mathematical language rather than literature language. Statistical method needs to estimate, and test the significance of, parameters in mathematical models. According to Yeates, “Geography can be regarded as a science concern with the rational development and testing of theories that explain the spatial distribution and location of various characteristic on the surface of the earth”.

Paradigms

Geography has progress from descriptive to the law making stage. Its law is universal in nature where it can be applied in any part of the world. Geography cannot be experimented in the field with controlled conditions like physics experiments. Darwinism did not completely disregard the idea of contemporary geography but regards the importance of study of development. After the latter nineteenth century researcher attempted to develop the subject as nomothetic approach or law-making approach. Charles Darwin is known as the father of evolution for being the first person to publish his theory not only describing that evolution was a change in species over time but also put together a mechanism for how it works (called natural selection). Darwinism is the theory of the origin. Four themes in Darwinism contributed to the development of geographical thought.

1) The idea of development through time strongly influenced the progress of geomorphology (study of landforms) pedology (sub division of social science that studies soil), ecology (study of relation between environment and organisms) and to some extent the social science.

2) Darwin’s emphasis on organism getting adapted to new environment and it evolved after the decline of biological vitalism.

3) The themes of selection and struggle were deterministically applied in both human and political geography.

4) The nature of variation in political and human geography.

Determinism and Positivism

Determinism in a simple term means human activities are being governed by the natural environment. Determinism in geography is belief that the happening of present is completely determined by previously existing causes. It did not include the free will of human environment considered human as inferior to nature. Greek and roman geographer is the first geographer to explain that physical features, character and culture are influenced by the natural environment. According to Aristotle he states that the people in warmer climate are intelligent but lack in spirit and therefore subject to slavery such as Asian people. The theory of environmental determinism originates in the fifteenth century. There was a series of belief regarding how environment affect the cultural structure of human; physical geography including climate affected the mindset of people which created different behavioral and cultural change. Ellen Churchill Sample stated that tropical climates caused laziness with relaxed habit and workless environment. It was even stated that the places having temperature variability have developed work-determined places. The ancient geographers believed that the Mesopotamian, Egyptians, and Indus Valley later disappeared with change in the climate. The scholar of Greek such as Aristotle, Strabo and Plato theorized places having moderate climate promotes the growth of civilization. European people are brave but unintelligent that they are able to maintain independence but did not have the capacity to rule over. Today, in modern times rose to popularity with the theory of Darwin ‘the Origin of Species’ that supported the environmental determinism, as it was formulated that only the fittest survived in the environment.

Conclusion

In old age geography was regarded as descriptive and not quantitative. Only after the 2nd world war the importance of math, numerical and statics were realized thus quantitative geography evolved. Hence it is growing from descriptive to quantitative geography. Geography had progress from descriptive to law-making body, and it is universally applicable in all the part of the earth. After later nineteen century the descriptive approach as develop to nomothetic approaches. Determinism mainly talks about the relationship between environment and human activities. It talks about how environment influenced the mindset of the people, their lifestyle, and the type of vegetation they feed on.

References

1. Adhikari, S. Fundamentals of geographical thought.
2. Adhikari, S. (2015). Paradigms in geography. In S. Adhikari, Fundamentals of geographical pp. 239-240). New Delhi: Orient blackswan private limited.
3. Burton, I. (1963). The quantitative revolution and theoritical geography.
4. D.R.Stoddart. (1966). Annals of the association of american geographers. Darwins impact on geography , vol 56.
5. Determinism and positivism in geography. (2018). Retrieved from Gk today.
6. Dodgshon, R. (1987). Geographical change: a study in marching time or the march of time?
7. Husain, M. (1995). Determinism and Possiblism. In M. Husain, Evolution of geographical thought (p. 250). Jaipur and New Delhi: Rawat publication.
8. Husain, M. (1995). Evolution of geographical thought. In M. Husain, Evolution of geographical thought (pp. 296-300). Jaipur and New Delhi: Rawat publication.
9. Husain, M. (1995). Evolution of geographical thought. In M. Husain, Evolution of geographical thought (pp. 300-302). Jaipur and New Delhi: Rawat publication.
10. Kemerling, G. (1997). Socrates: Philosophical Life.
11. Pidwirny, M. (2006). The hypothetico-deductive method.
12. Railiene, L. (2003). How geography and natural science subject comes into contact. 62-69.