Themes in Geographic Thought

Contents: 1. Paradigm, Philosophy and Geographic Thought/Milton E. Harvey and Brian P. Holly. 2. Positivism: A ‘Hidden’ Philosophy in Geography/Michael R. Hill. 3. Pragmatism: Geography and the Real World/John W. Frazier. 4. Functionalism/Milton E. Harvey. 5. Phenomenology/Edward C. Relph. 6. An Existential Geography/Marwyn S. Samuels. 7. Idealism/Leonard  Guelke. 8. Realism/Edward M. Gibson. 9. Environmental Causation/John E. Chappell. 10.  Marxism: Dialectical Materialism, Social Formation and the Geographic Relations/Richard J. Peet and James V. Lyons.

Geographic thought, at any point in time, is a manifestation of the interaction between the prevailing philosophical viewpoints and the major methodological approaches in vogue. Because of the extreme diversity of viewpoints on both philosophy and methodology, there has been a constant extension, and even a shift, in the focus of the disciplines. Numerous journal articles  have appeared presenting or discussing particular philosophies and their relationship to geography. However, there has been no single book presenting an overview of the whole field.

This book puts together, in one  volume, the diverse philosophies prevalent in geography. Eminent scholars each present a particular philosophy, its basic themes, its relationship to other philosophies, its impact on geography and its potential as a forum for geographic research. (jacket)