A Student′s Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theories, Philosophies, Methodologies - Paperback

by Pauline Couper (Author)

This ism-busting text is an enormously accessible account of the key philosophical and theoretical ideas that have informed geographical research. It makes abstract ideas explicit and clearly connects it with real practices of geographical research and knowledge.

Written with flair and passion, A Student′s Introduction to Geographical Thought

• Explains the key ideas: scientific realism, anti-realism and idealism / positivism / critical rationalism / Marxism and critical realism/ social constructionism and feminism / phenomenology and post-phenomenology / postmodernism and post-structuralism / complexity / moral philosophy.
• Uses examples that address both physical geography and human geography.
• Use a familiar and real-world example - 'the beach' - as an entry point to basic questions of philosophy, returning to this to illustrate and to explain the links between philosophy, theory, and methodology.

All chapters end with summaries and sources of further reading, a glossary explaining key terms, exercises with commentaries, and web resources of key articles from the journals Progress in Human Geography and Progress in Physical Geography. A Student′s Introduction to Geographical Thought is a completely accessible student A-Z of theory and practice for both human and physical geography.

Author Biography

Pauline Couper is Head of Programme for Geography at York St John University. Prior to this she was Senior Lecturer and Research Coordinator at the University of St Mark & St John (Marjon) in Plymouth, where she taught research methods and guided undergraduates through research projects for over a decade and supported staff research within the University from 2004 to 2014. In 2014 she was awarded the Marjon Students' Union "Student-Led Teaching Award" for "Outstanding Supervisor". Also winner of the RGS-Blackwell Area prize (2005), Pauline has a PhD in fluvial geomorphology and professional experience in geoconservation, and has always maintained enthusiasm for the breadth of the discipline. Her research interests now lie predominantly in philosophy of geography and human/environment relations, particularly in terms of how geographical and environmental knowledges are developed and performed.