Question

Describe Paul Vidal de la Blache’s theory of Possibilism. Why did it replace the theory of environmental determination?

Answer 1

Determinism postulated that all events are the inevitable result of preexisting conditions, and human choices are merely expressions of past environments. Vidal de La Blanche, reflecting on this stubborn theory, often spoke on environmental possibilities. This eventually led to the theory of possibilism. Possibilism is the theory that the physical environment is passive and mankind is active and has the choice between a wide range of environmental possibilities. In other words, while the environment sets constraints or limitations, culture is otherwise determined by social conditions.