Which of the following statements about Neo-determinism are correct?
(A) It is a middle path between Determinism and Possibilism
(B) Neither is there a situation of absolute necessity nor is there a condition of absolute freedom
(C) Human beings can conquer Nature by controlling it through technological innovations
(D) Possibilities can be created within the limits that do not damage the environment.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B), and (D) only
Neo-determinism is the idea of the geographer Griffith Taylor, who also called it stop and go determinism. It works like the traffic lights at a crossing: humans stop when nature shows a red signal and go ahead with development when nature permits the change.
(A) It is a middle path between Determinism and Possibilism — Correct. In environmental determinism, nature controls human life. In possibilism, humans use nature freely with their technology. Neo-determinism stands between these two ideas, so it is a middle path (Madhyam Marg).
(B) Neither is there a situation of absolute necessity nor is there a condition of absolute freedom — Correct. Absolute necessity is the situation of environmental determinism, and absolute freedom is the condition of possibilism. Neo-determinism accepts neither extreme.
(C) Human beings can conquer Nature by controlling it through technological innovations — Incorrect. In neo-determinism, human beings conquer nature by obeying it, not by controlling it. The free run that the developed economies attempted has already brought the green house effect, ozone layer depletion, global warming, receding glaciers and degrading lands. NTA changed the book’s words ‘by obeying it’ to ‘by controlling it’, and a true line became false. Read every word before you mark the answer.
(D) Possibilities can be created within the limits that do not damage the environment. — Correct. Humans may create new possibilities, but only within the limits that do not damage the environment. There is no free run without accidents.
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. 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.” |