Environmental Determinism

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM

by Antonio C. Antonio

February 5, 2015

Environmental Determinism is a theory that says that human culture, institutions, and economic activities are shaped (or are determined) by the environment and that human actions are entirely a response to ecological settings.  Environmental Determinism, also known as climactic determinism or geographical determinism, is the belief that the physical environment predisposes human social development towards particular trajectories.  It is also a doctrine that maintains that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by external causes which individuals or groups cannot control; and, therefore, dictated by man’s environment.

“Mr. Philander Rodman has a son (Dennis) who was a famous basketball player in the NBA.  Dennis lives in the U.S. and speaks English with a black-American twang.  Mr. Rodman settled in the Philippines and sired another son (Phil, Jr.) who also plays basketball.  Phil, Jr. lives in Angeles City and sFeaks HEnglish with Ha KaFamFangan dicSHAn.” (“Environmental-Cultural Terms”, Antonio, 2014, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/06/environmental-cultural-terms.html)

The Theory of Environmental Possibilism is directly opposed to the Theory of Environmental Determinism.

Just my little thoughts…

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