Historical Understanding in Geography: An Idealist ApproachAlthough many geographers have used historical approaches in the study of human activity, the historical approach as such is not often viewed as a fundamental mode of geographical understanding. Originally published in 1982, this work puts forward a case for historical geography conceived of both as a field in its own right and as the foundation of a revitalized traditional, empirical human geography. The crux of the case rests on the proposition that historical enquiry is an independent form of understanding not based upon or related to the approaches of the natural or social sciences. In recognising history as an independent form of knowledge one is able to look at historical geography from another perspective. The historical approach ultimately makes a contribution to an understanding of the present by elucidating the geographical ramifications of historical change. |
Contents
Rational understanding | 25 |
Objections to the concept of rational understanding | 38 |
Historical Geography as science | 55 |
an example | 70 |
Other editions - View all
Historical Understanding in Geography: An Idealist Approach Leonard T. Guelke No preview available - 2011 |
Historical Understanding in Geography: An Idealist Approach Leonard Guelke No preview available - 1982 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted actions agricultural approach arable farming assumptions basic basis Cape Town Clark Collingwood colonists conceived concept of history concerned context created criteria criterion of historical critical crucial Darby deductive-nomological model discipline E. P. Thompson economic elucidation empirical evidence European example existence fact foundation free burghers frontier settlement geographical change Hartshorne historian historical analysis historical explanation historical geography historical significance historical understanding human activity human geography human society Ibid idea of history idealist important individual interpretation investigation involved Khoikhoi labour land laws livestock loan farm logical mind narrative nature of geography Neumark objective past pasture phenomena philosophical philosophy of history physical population density position problem produce question R. G. Collingwood rational understanding re-enactment re-thinking relation relationships Riebeeck Sauer scholar scientific settlers situation slaves social sciences South Africa specific Stellenbosch theoretical theory thought trekboer understood University Press witchcraft