Geography in the Realm of Wissenschaft

GEOGRAPHY IN THE RBAIiM OF WISSENSCHAFT Hildegard Binder Johnson Macalester College This outline of a, reasoned methodology is no attempt to restate in part the history of geographic thought for which admirable literature is available in English, German, and French.1 Nor is it a compilation of several, let alone all, important terms and concepts, that enter methodological discussions of geography. A few selected propositions and conclusions are deemed sufficient for the argument and explanation of the presentation on the chart. The claim is made that geographic research which aspires to validity as well as géographie research which confesses to values is supported by the logic of research procedure. Natural and Social Sciences as Wissenschaft Techniques of geographic investigations, such as observing and charting surface features, measuring phenomena, designing models, collecting data and their further processing, interviewing, analysing and integrating documentary information, have little bearing on the logical principles that are fundamental in research. Creative thought is neither under discussion. We are concerned with research that makes a contribution to knowledge of empirical reality. The synonym for knowledge in German is Wissen, when systematized, Wissenschaft; its Latin synonym is scieniia. This meant originally the sum of knowledge. It is possible that the unity of the concept of knowledge broke up at the end of the Hellenistic period. Perhaps it was merely replaced in western thought by the universality of medievalism. The latter broke up during the Renaissance under the impact of geographic discoveries, the development of experimentation, the re-discovery of classic and non-western knowledge, to name a few of the contributing factors. With free investigations came specialization and the desire to classify, to generalize through qualification and to develop predictive values.2 Through the years matbematization became increasingly the mark of generalizing research for a good reason: In mathematics the subjective character of time, Einstein's "1-time, " its heterogeneity as process or continuum is replaced by time as a constant, as reversible, consisting of equal parts, homogeneous. Increasingly, mathematics and experimental sciences meant advancement of knowledge while historical writing—in the widest logical sense of the term—came to be considered as an enrichment through experiences. The scientist and the man of letters appeared to part ways and the ensuing polarism has served us ill, particularly in a society which profited extraordinarily from the applied sciences and technology. "The dissociation of science from the rest of our culture has deep-seated causes and disturbing implications."* The firmly entrenched division in academic life between natural and social sciences is no accident: it can be understood historically and is justified administratively. It is likely less pervasive in scholarly pursuits and often overcome by collegeiate cooperation. The popular adulation of matters and men that are, or only go by the term, scientific and scientists, is more dangerous. Thus, in the popular image, Thomas Edison is a scientist and not an inventor. On the other hand, great benefits for mankind, for example, immunization through vaccinations and safety measures made possible through radio, are considered an exclusive contribution by science without credit given to the work entailed in the "social responses" which were needed to make discoveries by science effective in society.4 We must now live with a generally accepted narrow conceptualisin of science and with such misunderstanding and discussion of what constitutes 'science.' In the logic as it applies here all endeavours to gain knowledge by observing empirical reality are the pursuit of science. Those who are concerned with science, scientia, Wissenschaft, natural and social sciences, history and geography, they all move in the vast realm where the search for truth about empirical reality goes on. Empirical Reality Whether reality is conceived as a finite or infinite universe, whether Ave accept it as being or assume it to be—"it is nonsense to ask whether it be true or false."3 Empirical reality is unconditionally given and changing. This is the fundamental aspect of reality to which historians, biologists, astronomers, economists, sociologists, and others bring their curiosity. "The things with which we (the geographers) place, for good reasons, not anywhere but somewhere, that is in actual situations and places."" Empirical reality is confusion. It cannot be comprehended as such...