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Evolution of Geographical Thought
Geographical Perspectives (ENV-4010Y)
University of East Anglia
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Geographical perspectives – module-4010Y
Evolution of Geographical Thought
Paradigms allowed geographical thought to evolve.
A paradigm represents a set of values, assumptions, methods and exemplars shared by an academic community which shape the way they undertake investigations.
New paradigms arise when existing world views no longer seem capable of solving problems that the discipline wishes to address. This is internalist perspective.
A contextualist interpretation would argue that academic disciplines do not exist in a vacuum i. to understand the history of Geography it is also necessary to understand the history of the societies of which Geography is part.
All empirical research practices are shaped by a wider philosophical framing that includes dimensions of:
o Ontology: the study of the nature of being and existence – ask the question “what can we know about the world?” o Epistemology: the theory of knowledge – hoe we can know what we know? o Methodology: how can we measure it?
The Age of Exploration
European knowledge (and conquest) of the surrounding world expanded enormously by the 17 th century.
Skills in navigation and map making were an important underpinning of this economic and political power. Establishment of the Discipline
The 19th century saw the founding of geographical societies in many countries (e. UK in 1830). These were very influential in subsequent colonial exploration and expansion.
This was accompanied by the creation of university professorship.
In the imperial era of the late 29th century there was particular interest in geopolitics.
The Geographical spot of History
Mackinder (1904) argued that control of the Eurasian landmass would enable domination of the rest of the world. The main threat to the power of the UK was therefore from an alliance between Germany and Russia.
Geographical Theories
Geographical studies began to move beyond an emphasis on inventory to developing more general theoretical ideas.
- The Nature of Geography (1939) “That geography is a field of knowledge which is concerned to know and understand individual cases follows directly from its function as the study of places. Th concept of place, like that pf person or event, is in its essence a concept of the specific” – Perspective on the Nature of Geography (1959)
Current example of Regional Geography
Natural England have defined 159 National Character Areas, each based on a ‘unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity, history and cultural and economic activity.
Evolution of Geographical Thought
Module: Geographical Perspectives (ENV-4010Y)
University: University of East Anglia
