The concept of 'environmental determinism' has long been a subject of debate among geographers. This theory posits that the physical environment, particularly climate and topography, directly shapes human behavior and societal development. Early proponents, such as Ellsworth Huntington, argued that temperate climates fostered industriousness and innovation, while tropical regions were associated with lethargy and stagnation. However, this perspective has been heavily criticized for its ethnocentric bias and oversimplification of complex cultural dynamics. Modern scholarship tends to favor 'possibilism', which acknowledges environmental constraints but emphasizes human agency and technological adaptation. Possibilists contend that while the environment sets certain limits, it does not dictate outcomes; rather, societies respond creatively to their surroundings. This shift reflects a broader trend in social sciences towards recognizing the interplay between nature and culture, rather than attributing deterministic causality to environmental factors alone.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 환경 결정론과 가능론 사이의 핵심 차이점은 무엇인가?
A. A) 환경 결정론은 인간의 창의성을 강조하는 반면, 가능주의는 환경적 제약에 초점을 맞춘다.
B. B) 가능주의는 환경이 인간 사회에 미치는 영향을 전면 부정하는 반면, 결정론은 이를 인정한다.
C. C) 환경 결정론은 환경을 사회의 주요 형성 요인으로 보는 반면, 가능주의는 환경적 한계 내에서의 인간 적응을 강조한다.
D. D) 두 이론 모두 환경적 요인보다 기술 발전을 동등하게 우선시한다.
✅ 正确答案
C) Environmental determinism views the environment as the primary shaper of society, while possibilism highlights human adaptation within environmental limits.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
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