User:AlexD/Philosophy of geography

Philosophy and Geography
What is Philosophy?

History of Philosophy and Physical Geography
Physiography

The approach of Huxley as shown in his physiography (1877) of universality presented an integrated approach in the study of the natural environment. The philosophy of universality in geography was not a new one but can be seen as evolving from the studies of Von Humbolt and Immanuel Kant. Physiography starts by analysing and classifying causes and effects at the local (micro-) scale and applying these to the macro-scale. This approach emphasises empirical collection of data over the theoretical, but also applies the data from the micro-scale to other larger scales with the view that the micro as part of the macro and thus an understanding of all the micro-scales is need to understand the macro level. The same approach was also used by McKinder (1887). The integration of the Geosphere, Atmosphere and Biosphere under physiography was soon over taken by the philosophy of Davisian geomorphology.

Darwinian Geography and Uniformitarianism

The failure of physiography to become a mainstream concept in geography might be seen as a failure of the Darwinian concept of evolution. The approach of Mckinder and Huxley are largely based in a Darwinian framework. However, this does not mean that Darwinian Geography failed at its first hurdle. The whole concept of Darwinian evolution might not have been well received by physical geographers, but the concepts of the ecosystem, significance of change and the integrated approach to nature and the environment did, however, become a core concept in physical geography.
 * The Charles Lyell’s concept of Uniformitarianism (“the present is the key to the past”)

Davison Cycle of Erosion and Terminal Addition

Denudation Chronology

Time Independent Theories

Climatic and Structural Geomorphology

Cyclical & Graded Time and Steady State & Dynamic Equilibrium

Systems Analysis

Basic Philosophies and Concepts in Physical Geography
Scientific Method Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Methods Cause and Effect