Geography is one of the oldest sciences in the world. Even primitive people studied their area, drew the first primitive maps on the walls of their caves. Of course, modern science geography sets itself completely different tasks. Which ones? What is she studying? And what definition can be given to this science?
Definition of geography: main problems and difficulties
If physics teaches “how,” history explains “when” and “why,” then geography tells “where.” Of course, this is a very simplified idea of this subject.
Geography is a very old science. The term itself has ancient Greek roots and literally translates as "geography." And its foundation was laid precisely in antiquity. The first geographer is Claudius Ptolemy, who in the second century published a book with an unambiguous title: "Geography". The work consisted of eight volumes.
Among other scientists who have made a solid contribution to the development of geography as a science, it is worth highlighting Gerhard Mercator, Alexander Humboldt, Karl Ritter, Walter Kristler, Vladimir Vernadsky, Vasily Dokuchaev.
An accurate and unified definition of geography is still quite a challenge. According to one of several interpretations, this is a system of sciences that study various aspects of the functioning and structure of the geographic shell of the Earth. There is another definition of geography, according to which this science studies the laws of the spread of any phenomenon on the earth's surface. But professor V.P. Budanov wrote that although the content of geography is very difficult to determine, but its object is without a doubt the surface of the entire globe.
Geography as a science about the geographic shell of the Earth
Yet the main object of study is the geographic shell of the Earth. Domestic science gives the following definition of this term. The geographic shell is a holistic and continuous shell of planet Earth, which consists of five structural parts:
- lithosphere;
- hydrospheres;
- atmosphere
- biosphere;
- anthroposphere.
Moreover, they are all in close and constant interaction, exchanging matter, energy and information.
The geographic envelope has its own parameters (power - about 25-27 kilometers), and also has certain laws. Among these are integrity (unity of components and structures), rhythm (periodic recurrence of natural phenomena), latitudinal zonality, altitudinal zonation.
The structure of geographical science
The distinction between the natural sciences and the humanities in bold lines went through the "body" of the once unified geographical science, scattering its individual disciplines into completely different planes of scientific research. Thus, some physicogeographic industries are more closely associated with physics or chemistry than with the population or the economy.
The geography of the Earth is divided into two large disciplines.
- Physical.
- Social and economic.
The first group includes hydrography, climatology, geomorphology, glaciology, soil geography and others. It is easy to guess that they are studying natural objects. The second group includes economic, population geography , urban studies (urban science), regional studies, and others.
Links to other sciences
How closely related is geography to other sciences? What place does it occupy in the system of scientific disciplines?
Geography has the closest connections with such sciences as mathematics, history, physics and chemistry, economics, biology and psychology. Like any other discipline, it is also genetically related to philosophy and logic.
It is worth noting that some of these inter-scientific relations were so strong that they gave rise to completely new so-called cross-cutting disciplines. These may include the following:
- cartography (geography + geometry);
- toponymy (geography + linguistics);
- historical geography (geography + history);
- soil science (geography + chemistry).
The main geographical problems at the present stage of development of science
Oddly enough this sounds, but one of the most important geographical problems is the definition of geography as a science. Moreover, methodologists and theorists are so carried away by the solution of this problem that the question has already arisen: does such a science exist at all?
In the 21st century, the role of the prognostic function of geographical science has increased. With the help of a huge amount of analytical and actual data, various geomodels (climatic, geopolitical, environmental, etc.) are built.
The main task of geography at the present stage is not only to realize the deep connections between natural phenomena and social processes, but also to learn to predict them. One of the most important branches of science today is geo-urbanism. The urban population of the world is growing every year. The largest cities in the world are faced with new problems and challenges that require immediate and constructive solutions.