Environmental Determinism

From Geography

Assignment 1: Environmental determinism

Also known as climatic determinism or geographical determinism Environmental determinism relies on an approach which implies that individuals are bound by their environmental settings, especially climate. These forms of physical geographies determine human behaviour, defined by stimulus-response. [1] All our behaviour is a result of some environmental determination. This approach does not leave room for speculations, or in any way other key possiblities then stimilus that may cause human behaviour. Environmental determinism rose to prominence in the late 19th century and early 20th century, partly through the work of human geographer Friedrich Ratzel. [2] This approach caused a lot of critique by those who could not agree with the determinating component. This eventually resulted in a shift from environmental determinism to environmental possibilism, which left space fot the element of chance.