現代 地理學의 思考와 硏究方向

Abstract

This short paper has discussed about the ideas and approaches that have been developed in the studies of modern geography, specially, since 1950. Geography, in common with many other subject diciplines, has undergone rapid changes in recent years. Particularly, human geography today is regarded as a social C science and its central concern of studies has been on the themes related to "spatial analysis" in stead of On those of "regional description," which were respected by traditional geographers. Within the context of studying spatial analysis

three key ideas emerge into modern geography, namly spatial pattern regularity, process analysis and prediction. Under these considerations a series of new methodolgical principles have been developed in geographic studies. Particularly, such approaches as systems analysis, model building, hypothesis formulation and test, and quantitative analysis have become key methods to understand, explain and solve spatial aspects of the geographic problems. Also, these approaches have greatly contributed to develop theoretical explanations for those problems in geography. It is worthwhile to say that the development of the ideas of modern geography and its approach possesses a nature of evolution in geographic thoughts rather than an alternative one against the principles of traditional geography.