Geography VSI

Space, place, and environment.

Main Page

This book describes the subject of geography more than the results or methods of geography. Look elsewhere if you want a potted summary of geography!

• Space, place and environment
• Physical geography vs. human geography
• Processes and systems
• Natural hazards planning
• ESRI is a private company and sponsors the largest global gathering of geographers
• Interesting words: palimpsest, colluvial, nomothetic

Conspicuously Missing

Surprisingly, the book is silent on David Landes’ (Wealth and Poverty of Nations) opening salvo:

Geography has fallen on hard times. … Huntington give geography a bad name. He went too far.

GPT explains:

Ellsworth Huntington was an American geographer, known for his work in environmental determinism during the early 20th century. Environmental determinism is the theory that the physical environment, particularly the climate, determines human behavior and societal development.

Who Was Ellsworth Huntington?

Ellsworth Huntington (1876-1947) was a professor at Yale University and conducted extensive research on the relationship between climate and civilization. He argued that climate and other environmental factors played a critical role in shaping the development of human societies. His notable works include:

• “The Pulse of Asia” (1907)
• “Civilization and Climate” (1915)
• “Mainsprings of Civilization” (1945)

Where Did He Go Too Far?

Huntington’s theories often went too far by oversimplifying the complex interactions between humans and their environment. He tended to attribute too much influence to climate, downplaying other critical factors such as culture, politics, and economics. This deterministic viewpoint suggested that certain climates were more conducive to civilization and progress, while others were not, leading to ethnocentric and sometimes racist conclusions.

Impact on Geography

1. Criticism and Decline of Environmental Determinism: Huntington’s work initially gained popularity but later faced substantial criticism for its reductionism and determinism. Critics argued that it ignored human agency and the ability of societies to adapt to and modify their environments.

2. Shift to Possibilism and Regional Geography: The backlash against environmental determinism led to the rise of possibilism and regional geography. Possibilism, championed by geographers like Paul Vidal de la Blache, emphasized human agency and the idea that the environment offers possibilities rather than constraints. Regional geography focused on understanding the unique characteristics of different places without attributing them solely to environmental factors.

3. Modern Geography: Modern geographical thought incorporates a more nuanced understanding of the environment’s role, integrating human and physical geography. It recognizes the complex interplay between environmental, cultural, economic, and political factors in shaping human societies.

Landes’s Perspective

David Landes, in his work, likely refers to the decline of simplistic environmental determinism and the challenges faced by geography as a discipline to balance environmental and human factors. The criticism of Huntington’s extreme views played a role in this shift, pushing the field toward a more integrative and multidimensional approach.

Geography at Universities

David Landes’ observation that “geography has fallen on hard times” and that it ceased to be taught at universities reflects a broader historical trend in the discipline, especially in the mid-20th century. Here are some key points that illuminate this phenomenon:

Decline in Geography’s Academic Status

1. Criticism of Environmental Determinism:
   • The backlash against environmental determinism, which was prominently represented by figures like Ellsworth Huntington, contributed to the discipline’s declining reputation. Critics argued that geography’s deterministic approach was overly simplistic and scientifically unfounded.
2. Rise of Specialization:
   • As academia became more specialized, geography’s interdisciplinary nature became a disadvantage. Disciplines like sociology, economics, political science, and environmental science began to cover areas traditionally studied by geographers, leading to a fragmentation of the field.
3. Perception Issues:
   • Geography was sometimes perceived as less rigorous or less scientifically credible compared to other disciplines. This perception made it difficult for geography departments to compete for resources and recognition within universities.
4. Curriculum Changes:
   • University curricula began to prioritize fields seen as more directly relevant to contemporary economic and technological developments. As a result, geography, which straddled both the social and physical sciences, often lost out to more narrowly focused disciplines.

Impact and Evolution

1. Integration into Other Disciplines:
   • Geographic concepts and methods did not disappear but were integrated into other disciplines. For example, spatial analysis became important in urban planning, environmental science, and public health.
2. Revival through GIS and Technology:
   • The advent of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies in the late 20th century sparked a renewed interest in geography. These technologies provided powerful tools for spatial analysis, leading to a resurgence of geographic studies in various applied fields.
3. Interdisciplinary Research:
   • Geography re-emerged as a valuable interdisciplinary field, particularly in addressing global challenges like climate change, urbanization, and sustainable development. Contemporary geography departments often emphasize integrative research that combines physical and human geography.

Current Status

1. Resilience and Adaptation:
   • Many universities have revitalized their geography programs by focusing on contemporary issues such as environmental sustainability, globalization, and geospatial technologies. Geography departments often collaborate with other disciplines, highlighting their relevance to modern scientific and societal challenges.
2. Educational Reforms:
   • Efforts to reform and modernize geography curricula, emphasizing skills in GIS, spatial analysis, and critical thinking, have helped re-establish geography as a vital academic discipline.

In conclusion, while geography experienced a period of decline in academic prominence due to various factors, it has since adapted and found new relevance through technological advancements and interdisciplinary research. The field continues to evolve, addressing critical issues and contributing valuable insights across multiple domains.

Deets

• John A. Matthews and David T. Herbert
• Volume 185
• Published 2008