Geography 1400F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Human Geography, Existentialism, Pragmatism
4 Mar 2020
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Document Summary
Philosophy is important to the beginning geographer because our choice of philosophical perspective explains our speci c content, concepts, and analytical techniques. The philosophical diversity of contemporary human geography re ects the diversity of our subject matter, namely, human behaviour in a spatial context. It also means that we draw on a wide variety of concepts and methods. All knowledge results from experience and therefore gives priority to factual observations over theoretical statements. Science is able to deal with only empirical questions (those with factual content), that scienti c observations are repeatable, and that science progresses through the construction of theories and derivation of laws. A philosophy centred on such aspects of human life as value, quality, meaning, and signi cance. Focuses on the construction of meaning through the practical activities of humans. A humanistic philosophy based on the ways in which humans experience everyday life and imbue activities with meaning.
