Which of the following attempts to bring a balance nullifying the ‘either’ ‘or’ dichotomy?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Neo-determinism
Option (1) Environmental Determinism — Incorrect. It is one end of the dichotomy, absolute necessity, where humans adapt to the dictates of nature.
Option (2) Possibilism — Incorrect. It is the other end, absolute freedom, where humans with technology create possibilities from nature.
Option (3) Modernism — Incorrect. A way of thinking that trusts science and grand, universal theories; it is no middle path between nature’s control and human freedom.
Option (4) Neo-determinism — Correct. Griffith Taylor’s neo-determinism, or ‘stop and go determinism’, is a middle path: there is neither absolute necessity nor absolute freedom. Humans can conquer nature by obeying it, which brings a balance nullifying the ‘either’ ‘or’ dichotomy.
Note: The concept in Option (3), ‘Modernism’, is not in NCERT (2025-26); explained here for the benefit of the students.
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.” |