Natural Theology and Neo-Lamarckism: The Changing Context of Nineteenth-century Geography in the United States and Great Britain

ISBN:

00045608

URL:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=13865846&site=ehost-live

Keywords:

EVOLUTION; GEOGRAPHY; IDEOLOGY; NATURAL law; NATURAL theology; TELEOLOGY; GREAT Britain; UNITED States; design argument; neo-lamarckism; context; social legitimation

Abstract:

During the first half of the nineteenth century, natural theology provided a common integrative context for research in natural history in general and geography in particular. With the anti-teleological challenge of the Darwinian revolution, however, natural theology became progressively fragmented. Providence increasingly identified with the uniformity of nature, and the process of social legitimation transferred to the new laws of nature. The writings of many geographers in this period reflect a transitional stance between, in effect, two theodicies and demonstrate how a reconstituted natural theology continued as a major context of geographical praxis before its secularization in naturalistic interpretations of man-environment relations deterministically construed. The changing character of natural theology and its integrative role during the nineteenth century are thus important factors in any attempt to construct a contextual history of geographical thought and practice.

Notes:

J1: Annals of the Association of American Geographers; M3: Article; Livingston, David N. 1; Affiliations: 1: Department of Geography, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland; Source Information: Mar1984, Vol. 74 Issue 1, p9; Subject Term: EVOLUTIONSubject Term: GEOGRAPHYSubject Term: IDEOLOGYSubject Term: NATURAL lawSubject Term: NATURAL theologySubject Term: TELEOLOGY; Subject Term: GREAT BritainSubject Term: UNITED States; Author-Supplied Keyword: evolutionAuthor-Supplied Keyword: teleologyAuthor-Supplied Keyword: design argumentAuthor-Supplied Keyword: neo-lamarckismAuthor-Supplied Keyword: natural lawAuthor-Supplied Keyword: contextAuthor-Supplied Keyword: social legitimationAuthor-Supplied Keyword: ideologyAuthor-Supplied Keyword: natural theology; Number of Pages: 20p; Document Type: Article