Which of the following concepts serves as a bridge between environmental determinism and possibilism?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Neodeterminism
Option (1) Post-modernism — Incorrect. This approach of the 1990s questioned universal theories and stressed the local context of each place. It does not deal with the debate between determinism and possibilism.
Option (2) Neodeterminism — Correct. Environmental determinism says that nature controls human life; possibilism says that people use the opportunities nature offers and change it freely. Griffith Taylor took a middle path (Madhyam Marg) between the two and called it neodeterminism, or ‘stop and go’ determinism: like a driver at a traffic light, people go ahead when nature allows and stop when it signals red.
Option (3) Regional Analysis — Incorrect. This approach of the later colonial period described every aspect of a region in detail, on the idea that understanding each part would explain the whole earth.
Option (4) Welfare Geography — Incorrect. The welfare or humanistic school studies the social well-being of people, such as their housing, health and education.
NCERT (2025-26): “Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature … A geographer, Griffith Taylor introduced another concept which reflects a middle path (Madhyam Marg) between the two ideas of environmental determinism and possibilism. He termed it as Neodeterminism or stop and go determinism. Those of you who live in cities and those who have visited a city, might have seen that traffic is regulated by lights on the cross-roads. Red light means ‘stop’, amber light provides a gap between red and green lights ‘to get set’ and green light means ‘go’. The concept shows that neither is there a situation of absolute necessity (environmental determinism) nor is there a condition of absolute freedom (possibilism). It means that human beings can conquer nature by obeying it. They have to respond to the red signals and can proceed in their pursuits of development when nature permits the modifications. It means that possibilities can be created within the limits which do not damage the environment and there is no free run without accidents. The free run which the developed economies attempted to take has already resulted in the green house effect, ozone layer depletion, global warming, receding glaciers and degrading lands. The neo-determinism conceptually attempts to bring a balance nullifying the ‘either’ ‘or’ dichotomy.” |