Question

What is cultural ecology? Explain the concept of environmental determinism, and give an example to support this theory. Explain the concept of possibilism, and give an example to support this theory.

Answer 1

Answer:

Cultural ecology is a theoretical approach that attempts to explain similarities and differences in culture in relation to the environment.

Environmental determinism is an idea that occupied a central position in geography during the early part of the twentieth century. It holds that the physical environment shapes the course of human economic, cultural, and social development, and that this effect is independent of space and time.So environmental (climatic) determinism implies that a society is formed and determined by the physical environment, especially the climate. ... Environmental determinists would argue that this has to do with the fact that Jamaica is based in a tropical climate.

Possibilism in cultural geography is the theory that the environment sets certain constraints or limitations, but culture is otherwise determined by social conditions. ... Strabo cautioned against the assumption that nature and actions of humans were determined by the physical environment they inhabited.Man has brought changes to the environment by increasing its capacity to meet his largely increased needs and demands. The most visible and common examples in this regard are; industrial revolution, agricultural advancement, technological revolution.