Geography's Quantitative Revolutions: Edward A. Ackerman and the Cold War Origins of Big Data by Elvin Wyly

This slender monograph uses the career and writings of Edward Ackerman as a mirror to reflect on the evolution of the discipline of geography from the mid-twentieth century to the present, with some speculations into the future. Using Ackerman's work to center the discourse, Elvin Wyly weaves a narrative that links the origins of geography's quantitative revolution to the cadre of geographers involved in intelligence efforts in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II and its transition aft er the war to the Central Intelligence Agency (better known to Americans as the CIA). While this is to some extent an oversimplification, those geographers involved in the OSS played an important role in amplifying the use of mathematical modeling and hypothesis testing in a wide array of topics in human geography. Along the way, Wyly's discourse examines elements of the debate concerning the nature of geography from the perspective of Hartshorne to geography as a quantitative spatial science informed by general systems theory. He then extends this to the emerging science of big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, all the while centering Ackerman as a pivotal figure in what was a more gradual transition over decades.

The monograph consists of six chapters. The first chapter uses Ackerman's address as honorary president of the Association of American Geographers in 1963, titled "Where Is a Research Frontier," as a point of embarkation for a detailed discussion of geography's scientific revolutions that continue to the present day. The second chapter chronicles and contextualizes Ackerman's career to the early 1960s, touching on his critical roles at OSS, Harvard University in the 1940s, and the Carnegie Institute of Washington. From the 1940s to the early 1960s, Ackerman was an essential figure in the early stages of geography's transition as a quantitative science, through both his research and writing and his leadership roles in the national scientific community. The narrative quickly dives into the history of philosophy of science in the next chapter, as the author examines the underpinnings of some of Ackerman's arguments from the perspective of Kant, viewed through the lens of Hartshorne. Ackerman argued for a "systematic geography" and sought to align geography with general systems theory. Several pages are devoted to discussing a controversy around a comprehensive report Ackerman spearheaded on Japanese Natural Resources in 1949–50, in which some conclusions were deemed in our present parlance as being "politically incorrect," though based on sound scientific reasoning.

In the words of the title of the next chapter, Ackerman became in some ways a "militant neo-Kantian" in seeking to impose a systems perspective on the discipline of geography. Wyly develops this line of thought in a lengthy chapter that shows how Ackerman's thinking began with insights from the philosophy of Kant, articulated by Hartshorne. Ackerman transformed these into a worldview that supported the delineation of scientific laws governing the spatial organization of human activity within a logical positivist framework.

While the chapter's focus on Ackerman's career in the context of the mid-twentieth century evolution of academic geography in the US may be of most interest to historical geographers, readers should pay special attention to chapter 5, "The New Evolution of Geographic Thought." In this chapter Wyly makes a strong connection between Ackerman's new frontier of systems theory for geography, and the interconnected web of internet, telecommunications, apps, marketing, social networking, and sharing of information and misinformation. The result is not a fully nuanced view—there is no mention of humanist or phenomenological approaches in geographic thinking or research, nor are its leading proponents referenced. Even so, Wyly gives geographers more than enough to digest and reflect on concerning the current and future foci of our discipline.

Wyly's writing takes the form of a critical discourse, and in some ways the monograph might be thought of as a contribution to the history and philosophy of geographic thought. Thus, it will be of greater interest to historical geographers who place their sources in the social context of their times, and to readers interested in contemporary reexaminations of orthodox histories of scientific underpinnings of geography. Although the monograph is relatively brief (the text is 131 pages, printed on eight-by-five-inch pages), the writing style does not make for a quick or easy read. On numerous occasions I found myself needing to refer to the notes for additional references and seeking out other resources to better understand the author's arguments. Given that one of the author's goals is to promote further inquiry, this is entirely appropriate, yet this book is not likely to be read through in a single sitting. Inclusion of a bibliography would enhance the utility of the book.

Reflecting on where geography is headed as a discipline, and from whence it came, is a useful exercise to undertake from time to time. Wyly argues that there are important lessons for the future in the experiences of academic geography's quantitative revolution. While many readers will disagree with some or all his arguments, it is worth the effort to read this book and become engaged in the ongoing conversation.