this Accessible And Engaging Text Explores The Relationship Between Philosophy, Science And Physical Geography. It Addresses An Imbalance That Exists In Opinion, Teaching And To A Lesser Extent Research, Between A Philosophically Enriched Human Geography And A Perceived Philosophically Empty Physical Geography.the Text Challenges The Myth That There Is A Single Self-evident Scientific Method That Can, And Is, Applied In A Straightforward Manner By Physical Geographers. It Demonstrates The Variety Of Alternative Philosophical Perspectives And Emphasizes The Difference That The Real Wo Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table Of Contents; List Of Figures And Tables; Preface To The First Edition; Preface To The Second Edition; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Structure Of The Book; Chapter 1. Ideas, Change And Stability In Physical Geography; What Are Ideas And How Do They Change?; Johannes Umbgrove And Plate Tectonics; Is There A History Of Ideas In Physical Geography?; What Are The Important Concepts In Physical Geography?; Chaos, Complexity And Earth Systems Science (ess); Summary; Chapter 2. The Nature Of Reality; What Is Reality? Views Of Different Philosophiescase Study: Critical Rationalism: An Example From Environmental Reconstruction; Reality As A Dialogue; Theory, Reality And Practice; Case Study: Myths And Theories; Physical Geography As Historical Science; Summary; Chapter 3. Entities And Classification; Introduction; What Are Entities?; Entities And Kinds; Case Study: Species As Natural Kinds; Case Study: Magnitude And Frequency - Entities Out Of Context; Classification; Case Study: The Eu Water Framework Directive And The Classification Of Surface Water Status; Case Study: Classification Of Soils Events - Mega Entities?summary; Chapter 4. Forms Of Explanation; Explanation In Physical Geography; What Is Explanation?; Causality; Case Study: Necessary And Sufficient Conditions; Explanatory Frameworks; Case Study: Abduction As A Form Of Explanation In Environmental Reconstruction; Case Study: Linking Theory And Practice; The Problems Of Causation; Summary; Chapter 5. Probing Reality; Probing And The Dialogue With Reality; Measurement Systems; Case Study: Triangulation Of Techniques - Measurement Of Surface Form On Rocks; Practice In Physical Geography Case Study: Linking Process And Form - Intensive Study Of Bedformscase Study: Probing Reality - Fluvial Flow Structure; Case Study: Multiple Working Hypotheses; Summary; Chapter 6. The Field; What Is 'field Science'?; The Philosophies Of Fieldwork; Case Study: Local Underdeterminism And The Younger Dryas Event; 'simplifying The Field' - Laboratory And Experimental Research; Monitoring The Field; Fieldwork As A Reflective And Imaginative Practice; Summary; Chapter 7. Systems - The Framework For Physical Geography?; Systems Analysis In Physical Geography; Application Of Systems Thinking Systems And Changecase Study: Systems And Landscape Sensitivity; Summary; Chapter 8. Change And Complexity; Equilibrium - An Ex-concept?; Chaos And Complexity - More Of The Same?; Case Study: Chaos Theory And Ecological Systems; Emergence And Hierarchies - Scale Revisited?; Case Study: Scale And (dis)connectivity; Case Complexity And Change - Landscape Evolution And Organization; Summary; Chapter 9. Modelling; Conceptual Approaches To Modelling; Types Of Models; Conceptual Models; Analogue Models; Deterministic Models; Empirical- Statistical Models Case Study: Numerical Modelling Of Late Quaternary Relative Sea-level Change And Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Rob Inkpen And Graham Wilson. Description Based Upon Print Version Of Record. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. English