The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been a contentious issue in geographical scholarship. Early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that climate and topography directly shaped human behavior and societal development. However, this perspective was heavily critiqued in the mid-20th century for its simplistic causality and potential to justify colonialism. Contemporary geographers, like Jared Diamond, have revived interest in the role of environmental factors but with greater nuance, emphasizing their interaction with cultural and historical contingencies rather than asserting a unidirectional influence. This modern approach acknowledges that while geography can constrain or enable certain paths, human agency and technological innovation often mediate these effects, leading to diverse outcomes in similar environments.
❓ この文章によると、初期の環境決定論と現代の環境影響に関する見解の主な違いは何ですか？
A. A) 現代の見解は、社会を形成する上での環境の役割を完全に否定している。
B. B) 初期の決定論は単純化されていたが、現代の見解では環境要因は文化や歴史と相互に作用すると考えられている。
C. C) 現代の地理学者は地形を無視し、気候のみに焦点を当てている。
D. D) 初期の決定論は人間の主体性を重視していたが、現代の見解はそれを無視している。
✅ 正确答案
B) Early determinism was simplistic, while contemporary views consider environmental factors as interacting with culture and history.
IELTS Reading Tips
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