Revolution ohne Kiel und ohne Revolution – Die quantitativ-theoretische Geographie in Erlangen
This article aims at expanding the predominant narrative of a <q>Quantitative Revolution</q> in German-speaking geography, to develop a more complex and multifaceted perspective on this chapter of the discipline's history. For this purpose, I take a closer look at the institute...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | deu |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-10-01
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Series: | Geographica Helvetica |
Online Access: | https://www.geogr-helv.net/72/393/2017/gh-72-393-2017.pdf |
Summary: | This article aims at expanding the predominant narrative
of a <q>Quantitative Revolution</q> in German-speaking geography, to develop a
more complex and multifaceted perspective on this chapter of the
discipline's history. For this purpose, I take a closer look
at the institute of geography in Erlangen. Eugen Wirth, the long-term chair
holder in Erlangen, argued that here, in contrast to the majority of other
institutes, the implementation of quantitative methods started in 1932, when
Walter Christaller submitted his thesis: <q>Central Places in Southern
Germany</q>. According to Wirth a dissertation supervised by him in 1969 was a
further step towards the use of quantitative methods. I argue that Wirth
made a significant contribution to the debate on quantitative theoretical
geography in Germany with his textbook <q>Theoretical Geography</q> published in
1979, although the book was subsequently criticised and strongly rejected by
Bartels and others as a <q>conservative embrace</q>.
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By examining this local negotiation process, I develop one of many
narratives, that stand opposed to a unified account with which the general
assembly of geographers in 1969 and Bartels' <q>Geographie des Menschen</q>
uniquely motivated the abandonment of the concept of <q>Länderkunde</q>. |
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ISSN: | 0016-7312 2194-8798 |