The concept neither there is a situation of absolute necessity nor absolute freedom is called:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Neo-determinism
Geographers have three ideas about the relation between people and nature. They differ in how free people are to change nature.
Option (1) Environmentalism — Incorrect. In environmental determinism, nature dictates and people must adapt to it. This is the state of absolute necessity.
Option (2) Probablism — Incorrect. There is no such concept.
Option (3) Possibilism — Incorrect. In possibilism, people use technology to create possibilities with the resources of nature. This is the state of absolute freedom.
Option (4) Neo-determinism — Correct. Griffith Taylor’s ‘stop and go determinism’ is the middle path. People can change nature, but they must stop at nature’s red signals and go ahead only when nature permits.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 25-05-2023 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2026-27): “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. … 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.” |