The German scholar, Immanuel Kant was born in 1724 and started his carrier as Professor of Geography at Konigsberg. He was mainly interested in physical geography. He was one of those scholars who believed that geography has to play a vital role in the progress and development of human society. His interest in physical geography arose through his philosophical investigation of the whole field of empirical knowledge. He was a theoretical geographer and without field work he tried to classify empirical phenomena. He pointed out that there are two different ways of grouping or classifying empirical phenomena for the purpose of studying them: either in accordance with nature, or in accordance with their position in time and space. History studies the phenomena which follows one after the other in time (chronological science), while geography studies phenomena which lie side by side in space (chronological science). History and geography are both essential sciences, standing alongside the systemic sciences. Without them, man cannot achieve a full understanding of the world.
About the concept of space, he asserted that 'space' is a relative view which consists of system of relations among substance and 'spatial magnitude' is therefore only a measure of intensity of acting forces exerted by the substance.
About knowledge Kant asserted that it is obtained either by the exercise of pure reason or through the senses. Sense perceptions are of two types, those perceived by the inner and those by the outer senses, and together they furnish the whole of man's empirical knowledge of the world. The world as perceived by the inner senses, is soul (Seele), or man (Mensch) i.e. the self; as perceived by the outer senses in nature. According to him anthropology studies the soul of man; physical geography, studies nature, physical geography is thus the first part of knowledge of the world.
Since every person's experience is limited both in time and space, each one must supplement his personal experience with that of others, always, taking care to examine thoroughly the reliability of what is observed. Such borrowed indirect experiences are of two kinds; they are either a narrative or descriptive. The first is history, the second is geography. Empirical knowledge can also be classified in time and space. Study of phenomena in terms of space is geography and in time history.
Kant also poses the question whether geography or history was first. He decides geography has existed at all periods and is the substructure of history; thus if there is an ancient history, so there must also be ancient geography, which helps to make clear the events of history. Physical geography is then, a general outline of nature, and constitutes not only the basis of history but also of all other possible geographies. Those other geographies, Kant defines as:
1. Mathematical Geography - which treats the form, size, and movement of the earth, of its position in the Solar System.
2. Moral Geography - which discusses the different customs and characters of man, e.g. examines the contrast of oriental civilization where patricide is most fearful one, with customs in Lapland where a father, if wounded, while hunting, expects his son to kill him.
3. Political Geography - the study of relationship between political units and their physical background. For example, in ancient Persia two states existed whose mutual independence arose from, and was assured, by the Kerman desert, which divided them.
4. Commercial Geography - which examines the reasons why certain countries have a superfluity of one commodity while others have a deficiency, a condition that gives rise to international trade.
5. Theological Geography - which studies the changes theological problems undergo in different environments. For example, one would make a comparison of Christianity in the Far East with that in Europe and the variation of Christian beliefs in different parts of Europe.
Thus during the time of Kant the geographers started writing on Mathematical, Moral geography, Political, Commercial and Theological geography. Branching of geography, especially into the physical and human geography was started during this period. The period of Varenius and Kant is also known as the Classical Period of Modern Geographical Thought.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page", St. Augustine said. Here at www.travel-university.org we believe that every page must be read and explored. Travel is an avenue of learning that no text or classroom can teach. The world is a living classroom and you the student. We invite you to the www.travel-university.org library where you can read general interest and detail oriented articles.
