Knowledge, uncertainty and physical geography

Towards the development of methodologies for questioning belief

Dados Bibliográficos

ID8963708
AutoresJames Dean Brown (0000-0001-9185-3284, University of Amsterdam, autor correspondente)
Ano2004
Volume29
Fascículo3
Páginas367-381
Data de publicação2004-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoTransactions of the Institute of British Geographers (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0020-2754 • E-ISSN: 1475-5661
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.0020-2754.2004.00342.x
OpenAlexW1999207602
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas24
Referências citadas63

Although it is widely acknowledged that our understanding of environmental systems cannot be reduced to single predictions and unique explanations, determinism remains a common strategy in physical geography. This paper argues for explicit assessments of uncertainty in environmental data and models as a necessary, although not a sufficient, condition for balancing uncertain scientific arguments against uncertain social, ethical, moral and legal arguments in managing environmental systems. In particular, this paper aims to: (1) demonstrate the importance of assessing uncertainty within a realist research framework; (2) consider the nature of scientific uncertainty as the basis for developing methodologies that question belief; and (3) explore some important aspects of a methodology for evaluating uncertainties in environmental research

Determinism · Economics · Epistemology · Management science · Sociology · Uncertainty quantification · Computer Science · Groundwater flow and contamination studies · Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies · Soil Geostatistics and Mapping