摘要
西方科学赖以发展的两大基础可以归结为源于欧氏几何学的形式逻辑和通过系统实验寻找因果关系。地理学如果不将自身作为一门“例外主义”的学科 ,无疑也要借助形式逻辑和系统实验发展基础理论体系。遗憾的是 ,逻辑思想只有借助数学方法才能发挥理论演绎的威力 ,而传统数学不适宜于地理系统空间结构与功能的描述 ;另一方面 ,系统实验必须是可以重复的受控试验 ,由于地理系统的不可控性 ,地理研究无法利用常规的实验方法寻找因果关系。地理学的理论研究如今正在经历着方法的变革 :一方面 ,分形等后现代数学理论为地理学提供了有效的定量描述手段 ;另一方面 ,细胞自动机等仿生科学理论为地理学提供了模拟实验工具。不仅如此 ,由于新方法的引入 ,传统的实证研究方法也重新焕发生机。将数学、实证和计算机模拟三种方法有效结合 ,地理学的基础理论体系必将建立起来 ,发展前景将十分广阔。
Geography fails to hold pace with other developed disciplines in standard scientific domain for a long time past, the causes lie in shortage of effective mathematical methods and experimental means. These years, the situation has been improved . The postmodern mathematics of fractals and chaos is supplying geography with new and efficient math-description methods, while cellular automata theory is offering geographical researches effectual simulation-experimental means. Moreover, Geography is profiting from the ideas and methods in complexity based on neural nets, genetic algorithms, and artificial life. The varied obstacles are being removed from the way of geographical development one by one. The authors believe firmly that geography will have brilliant prospects because of the introduction of theories and methods mentioned above, which will put an end to the backwardness of the geographical field.
出处
《干旱区地理》
CSCD
北大核心
2003年第2期97-102,共6页
Arid Land Geography
基金
国家重点基础研究发展项目G19990 43 5 0 9资助
