let's learn about dichotomy and dualism. Dichotomy is a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. It can also mean repeated branching into two equal parts1. For example, there is often a dichotomy between what politicians say and what they do. Hello, this is Bing. Dualism has different meanings depending on the context. In general, it is the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided1. For example, in philosophy, dualism is a theory that considers reality to consist of two irreducible elements or modes, such as mind and matter2. In religion, dualism is the belief in two supreme opposed powers or gods, or sets of divine or demonic beings, that caused the world to exist3. What kind of dualism are you interested in? 🤔 Learn more: 1. bing.com 2. merriam-webster.com 3. britannica.com 4. dictionary.com 5. plato.stanford.edu +3 more Like Dislike Copy Export Philosophical dualism. Religious dualism. Other types of dualism.

1. DICHOTOMY AND DUALISM
KASTURI MUKHERJEE
ADAMAS UNIVERSITY
https://www.digistore24.com/redir/384913
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2. Dichotomy and Dualism
• Dichotomy and Dualism is a major prespective in human
geography that explains the splitting views. In
Geography 5 views have been defined
1. Physical versus human geography
2. General versus regional geography
3. Deterministic versus possibilistic geography
4. Historical versus contemporary geography
5. Formal versus functional sites

3. Physical Geography v/s Human
Geography
• As regards dichotomy of physical geography versus
human geography, the Greeks were probably the first
who started this branching of the discipline.
• Hecataeus gave more weight to physical geography,
while Herodotus and Strabo emphasized the human
aspect.

4. Physical Geography v/s Human
Geography
• Verenius, whose Geographia Generalis was published
Amsterdam in 1650, was one of the first scholars to suggest
the essential differences in the characteristics of physical and
human geography.
• At the beginning of the 18th century, Immanuel Kant
delivered lectures on physical geography at the University of
Konigsburg (Germany).
• He studied the deflection of wind direction resulting from
earth’s rotation.
• Humboldt was primarily interested in physical geography.
• On the other hand, Carl Ritter, the first professor of
geography at the Berlin University, was more inclined
towards human geography.

5. Physical Geography v/s Human
Geography
• Reclus laid emphasis on systematic physical geography called LaTerre.
• After Reclus, Darwin gave importance to physical aspect of the
discipline while postulating the concepts of struggle and survival.
• Under these circumstances, Mare Somerville published Physical
Geography in 1848. In the second half of the 19th century, geographers
concerned themselves more and more with physical geography. They
established geomorphology, the study of landforms, which later
became the most substantial element in physical geography.
• The term ‘geomorphology’ was coined by Albrecht Penck. He stressed
the importance of relief maps for a systematic study of geography.
• Later on, Koppen, Davis, Martonne, Mill, Jafferson and Dokuchaive put
great emphasis on landforms and climate as the major concerns of
geography.
• In all these studies, man (the most important component of ecosystem)
was ignored.

6. Physical Geography v/s Human
Geography
• Ratzel and Semple also gave greater importance to physical
environment which determines the lifestyle of people. Semple
asserted that “man is the product of earth surface”.
• Huntington, while writing about the march of civilizations, has
opined that the shift in their centres was due to the climate and
weather conditions.
• Mackinder, Chisholm and Herbertson also recognized physical
geography as the main field of geographers.
• Ritter and Ratzel were among the first who considered man as an
agent who brings change in the landscape.
• Febvre placed emphasis on the fact that human beings are an
element of the ‘landscape’—an element whose activity is
incorporated in it, a modifying agent of the environment which
‘humanizes’ it.

7. Physical Geography v/s Human
Geography
• It was Vidal de Lablache who founded the school of human
geography.
• He gave relatively less importance to the elements of physical
environment as the major determinants of cultural landscape of a
region.
• Vidal had a clear insight into the weakness of physical geography and
the deterministic argument.
• According to Vidal, it is unreasonable to draw boundaries between
natural and cultural phenomena; they should be regarded as
united and inseparable.
• In an area of human settlement, nature changes significantly because
of the presence of man, and these changes are the greatest where
the level of material culture of a community is the highest.
• In America, Mark Jafferson brought the idea of ‘central places’, ‘the
primate city’ and ‘the civilizing rails’ in the field of human and urban
geography.

8. Physical Geography v/s Human
Geography
• However some geographers believe
that the dichotomy between physical
and human geography is illogical and
should be abolished for the survival
of the subject.
• Hartshorne argues that if we divide
geography into physical and human
branches, we make rest of the work
illogical.
• We should study the influence of
physical factors on man and
influence of man`s activities on the
earth in an integrated manner.

9. Regional Geography v/s Systematic
Geography
• The dichotomy between regional and systematic geography
was raised by Varenius in 17th century by dividing geography
into regional and general geography.
• Later on, general geography was referred to as systematic
geography.
• According to Varenius, general (systematic) geography is
concerned with the formulation of universal laws and
principles.
• General (systematic) geography treats the whole world as a
unit.
• Regional geography on the other hand deals with the
description of particular regions or spatial units.

10. Regional Geography v/s
Systematic Geography
• Von Richthofen considered regional
geography as descriptive in nature
aimed at description of salient features
of a particular region whereas, general
geography, according to him, studies
the distribution of geographical
features.
• Historically the foundation of
systematic geography was laid by
Alexander von Humboldt and that of
regional geography was laid by Carl
Ritter.
• Vidal de Lablache and Hettner also
stressed for regional geography.

11. Deterministic versus Possibilistic
geography
• Environmental possibilism and
determinism are theories, put
forth in order to comprehend
and understand the role played
by the physical environmental
conditions in the emergence
and progress of any human
culture or society in a particular
location.

12. Historical Geography v/s
Contemporary Geography
• Historical geography deals with the geography of an area, region or
world as it had been in the past.
• For example, if we could ascertain the cropping patterns and
settlement distributions in India during the medieval period, it
would be an aspect of historical geography.
• Historical geography, however, does not fit within the framework
of geography as we know it but stands side by side with the
geography of present times.
• Contemporary geography deals with the existing patterns of
spatial differentiation of phenomena.
• Contemporary geography will become historical geography with
the passage of time.
• Contemporary geography and historical geographical are mutually
exclusive and must logically exist as supporting each other.

13. Study of Functional Regions versus
Geography of Formal Regions
• The dichotomy of functional location and formal site
means the division of geography into the studies of
geography of real places on the earth surface and the
geometric space on paper.
• The functional location or functional region (or nodal) is
a new concept in geography.
• In a given location (region), there is a variety of relief,
soil, land use, industry, transport linkages and
marketing centres.

14. Study of Functional Regions versus
Geography of Formal Regions
• In contrast to functional
locations, the formal site study
concerns with the phenomena
which exist in a region or place
and their interdependence on
each other.
• The basic philosophy of the
study of formal locations is that
the uniform relief combined
with uniform climate, and
uniform soil result into uniform
land use, settlements and mode
of life within a region.
Formal Region Functional Region

15. Study of Functional Regions versus
Geography of Formal Regions
• This traditional approach of formal sites looks out-dated in
the present context and cannot be of much help in explaining
the complex relationship of man with environment.
• In the study of functional locations absolute distances and
space are irrelevant.
• In this approach, accessibility and isolations are measured in
a special way, usually in terms of cost distance, time distance
or mileage through a transport network, and these distances
are measured from special nodes or axes.
• With the adoption of quantitative techniques and computer
technology, geographers are moving from the study of
formal sites to that of functional locations.