地理学是一门脆弱的学科吗?——哈佛大学撤销地理系事件及其反思
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摘要
在历史上,中外地理系或地理专业被撤销或改名的事件不断重演,催生出地理学是否为一门脆弱的学科的关键问题。文章选取在地理学思想史上有重大影响的哈佛大学撤销地理系事件作为典型案例,在分析其背景的基础上,根据多种文献资料,深入透视该事件的真相及其后续影响。哈佛大学撤销地理系的原因非常复杂,主要是科学主义盛行的氛围、大学管理者的傲慢、自然与人文的内斗、政治因素、歧视同性恋、大学财政拨款受限、特定的时代背景等。地理学的脆弱性实际上是学科身份认同和如何定位的问题,它主要取决于如何处理地理学与其他学科、社会、政府与管理部门的关系,也就是地理学的科学性、社会性和政治性。作为一门早已独立且历史悠久的交叉学科,地理学与其他学科、社会和政治的密切关联既是其脆弱之处,也是其优势所在。
The elimination of geography at Harvard University is a big event in the history of geography, which contributed to a key question whether geography is a vulnerable discipline. The elimination of geography at Harvard has a significant influence in the history of geographic thought. This article takes the elimination of geography at Harvard as a typical case and attempts to reveal the truth and the influences of the event based on the analysis of the stories in some references. The present essay is not just a case study of an important event in the history of American geography, but an opportunity for reflection and an invitation to learn from history and to apply these lessons to the present. The article argues that there were six reasons for the elimination of geography at Harvard, including the prevailing atmosphere of science, the arrogance of the university management, infighting between natural sciences and humanistic studies, the political factor of excluding communist influences, discrimination against homosexuals, university financial constraints, and the background of the particular period. The vulnerability of geography is actually a matter of identity, and is how to position the subject. It depends on how geography deals with its own relationship with other disciplines, society, the government, and management, which involves the scientific, social, and political nature of geography. As an independent interdisciplinary field with a long history, geography is closely related to other sciences, society, and politics. This is both a vulnerability and an advantage. The identity of other disciplines and societal issues are important to geography. Geography should adapt and change.
The elimination of geography at Harvard University is a big event in the history of geography, which contributed to a key question whether geography is a vulnerable discipline. The elimination of geography at Harvard has a significant influence in the history of geographic thought. This article takes the elimination of geography at Harvard as a typical case and attempts to reveal the truth and the influences of the event based on the analysis of the stories in some references. The present essay is not just a case study of an important event in the history of American geography, but an opportunity for reflection and an invitation to learn from history and to apply these lessons to the present. The article argues that there were six reasons for the elimination of geography at Harvard, including the prevailing atmosphere of science, the arrogance of the university management, infighting between natural sciences and humanistic studies, the political factor of excluding communist influences, discrimination against homosexuals, university financial constraints, and the background of the particular period. The vulnerability of geography is actually a matter of identity, and is how to position the subject. It depends on how geography deals with its own relationship with other disciplines, society, the government, and management, which involves the scientific, social, and political nature of geography. As an independent interdisciplinary field with a long history, geography is closely related to other sciences, society, and politics. This is both a vulnerability and an advantage. The identity of other disciplines and societal issues are important to geography. Geography should adapt and change.
引文
Sweeper.2012.地理系在哈佛的灭亡与计量革命[EB/OL].(2012-09-07)[2018-12-18].http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_53dbe24b0101be6t.html.[Sweeper.2012.The elimination of geography at Harvard and quantitative revolution.(2012-09-07)[2018-12-18].http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_53dbe24b0101be6t.html.]
蔡运龙,叶超,马润潮,等.2016.马克思主义地理学及其中国化:“跨国、跨界、跨代”知识行动[J].地理研究,35(7):1205-1229.[Cai Y L,Ye C,Ma R C,et al.2016.Knowledge as action:Marxist geography and its development in China.Geographical Research,35(7):1205-1229.]
刘云刚.2012.21世纪高校人文地理学教学改革与实践:中山大学的探索[J].人文地理,27(2):156-160.[Liu Y G.2012.The practice of education curriculum reform on human geography:A case study of Sun Yat-sen University.Human Geography,27(2):156-160.]
马丁.2008.所有可能的世界:地理学思想史[M].成一农,王雪梅,译.上海:上海人民出版社.[Martin G J.2008.All possible worlds:A history of geographical ideas.Translated by Cheng Y N,Wang X M.Shanghai,China:Shanghai People's Publishing House.]
孙俊,潘玉君.2011.也谈科学的兴衰:借饶毅教授哈佛生物学之思看地理学[J].科学文化评论,8(6):98-104.[Sun J,Pan Y J.2011.Talking about the rise and fall of science:Thinking geography with professor Rao Yi's thoughts on Harvard biology.Science&Culture Review,8(6):98-104.]
孙俊,潘玉君,和瑞芳,等.2011.科学普及中行为缺失的案例剖析:以地理学为例[J].科普研究,6(2):46-54.[Sun J,Pan Y J,He R F,et al.2011.An analysis of the lack of behavior in scientific popularization:A case study of geography.Science Popularization,6(2):46-54.]
叶超,蔡运龙.2009.地理学方法论变革的案例剖析:重新审视《地理学中的例外论》之争[J].地理学报,64(9):1134-1142.[Ye C,Cai Y L.2009.Re-evaluating Schaefer and his criticizing on exceptionalism in geography:A case study on the innovation of methodology.Acta Geographica Sinica,64(9):1134-1142.]
叶超,蔡运龙.2012.区域地理与系统地理二元论的演变及其透析[J].地理研究,31(5):1-11.[Ye C,Cai Y L.2012.Causes and effects of dualism between regional geography and systematic geography.Geographical Research,31(5):1-11.]
袁涛.2017.哈佛大学地理系的解散与地理学的崛起[J].科技导报,35(14):97.[Yuan T.2017.The dissolution of Harvard university's department of geography and the rise of geography.Science&Technology Review,35(14):97.]
张晓祥.2012.1948-2006:哈佛大学地理系的灭亡与地理学的重生[EB/OL].(2012-09-16)[2018-12-18].http://blog.csdn.net/xgis2010/article/details/7983606.[Zhang X X.2012.The elimination of geography at Harvard and the rebirth of geography,1948-2006.(2012-09-16)[2018-12-18].http://blog.csdn.net/xgis2010/article/details/7983606.]
Ackerman E A.1945.Geographic training,wartime research,and immediate professional objectives[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,35(4):121-143.
Aschmann H.1962.Geography in the liberal arts college[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,53(3):284-292.
Burghardt A F.1988.On"academic war over the field of geography",the elimination of geography at Harvard,1947-1951[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):144.
Burton I.1963.The quantitative revolution and theoretical geography[J].The Canadian Geographer,7(4):151-162.
Cohen S B.1988.Reflections on the elimination of geography at Harvard,1947-1951[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):148-151.
Cresswell T.2013.Geographic thought:A critical introduction[M].Oxford:Wiley-Blackwell.
Downs R M,Liben L S,Daggs D G.1988.On education and geographers:The role of cognitive developmental theory in geographic education[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(4):680-700.
Goldsberry K.2013.The importance of spatial thinking now[J/OL].Harvard Business Review,2013-09-30.[2018-12-18].http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/09/teaching-andlearning-visualiz/?goback=.gde_1889525_member_5793226520059207684#!.
Hartshorne R.1939.The nature of geography:A critical survey of current thought in the light of the past[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,29(3):173-412.
Hartshorne R.1954.Comment on"Exceptionalism in Geography"[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,44(1):108-109.
Hartshorne R.1955.Exceptionalism in geography reexamined[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,45(3):205-244.
Hartshorne R.1958.The concept of geography as a science of space,from Kant and Humboldt to Hettner[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,48(2):97-108.
Harvard Crimson.1948a.College dooms major in geographical field[N].Harvard Crimson,1948-03-04.
Harvard Crimson.1948b.Council report criticizes elimination of geography[N].Harvard Crimson,1948-04-21.
Harvard Crimson.1948c.Geography loss puzzles Whittlesey[N].Harvard Crimson,1948-04-08.
Kitchin R,Tate N.2013.Conducting research in human geography:Theory,methodology and practice[M].London:Routledge.
Martin J.1988.On Whittlesey,Bowman and Harvard[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):152-158.
Peet R.1998.Modern geographical thought[M].Oxford:Blackwell.
Richardson D.2005.Bringing geography back to Harvard[J].Annals Newsletter,40(11):1-2.
Schaefer F.1953.Exceptionalism in geography:A methodological examination[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,43(3):226-249.
Smith N.1987.Academic war over the field of geography:The elimination of geography at Harvard,1947-1951[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,77(2):144.
Smith N.1988.For a history of geography:Response to comments[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):159-163.
Tadaki M,Salmond J,Heron R L,et al.2012.Nature,culture,and the work of physical geography[J].Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers,37(4):547-562.
The Center for Geographic Analysis(CGA)at Harvard University.2017.CGA Harvard:Early history of the center[EB/OL].(2017-07-25)[2018-12-18].http://gis.harvard.edu/about.
蔡运龙,叶超,马润潮,等.2016.马克思主义地理学及其中国化:“跨国、跨界、跨代”知识行动[J].地理研究,35(7):1205-1229.[Cai Y L,Ye C,Ma R C,et al.2016.Knowledge as action:Marxist geography and its development in China.Geographical Research,35(7):1205-1229.]
刘云刚.2012.21世纪高校人文地理学教学改革与实践:中山大学的探索[J].人文地理,27(2):156-160.[Liu Y G.2012.The practice of education curriculum reform on human geography:A case study of Sun Yat-sen University.Human Geography,27(2):156-160.]
马丁.2008.所有可能的世界:地理学思想史[M].成一农,王雪梅,译.上海:上海人民出版社.[Martin G J.2008.All possible worlds:A history of geographical ideas.Translated by Cheng Y N,Wang X M.Shanghai,China:Shanghai People's Publishing House.]
孙俊,潘玉君.2011.也谈科学的兴衰:借饶毅教授哈佛生物学之思看地理学[J].科学文化评论,8(6):98-104.[Sun J,Pan Y J.2011.Talking about the rise and fall of science:Thinking geography with professor Rao Yi's thoughts on Harvard biology.Science&Culture Review,8(6):98-104.]
孙俊,潘玉君,和瑞芳,等.2011.科学普及中行为缺失的案例剖析:以地理学为例[J].科普研究,6(2):46-54.[Sun J,Pan Y J,He R F,et al.2011.An analysis of the lack of behavior in scientific popularization:A case study of geography.Science Popularization,6(2):46-54.]
叶超,蔡运龙.2009.地理学方法论变革的案例剖析:重新审视《地理学中的例外论》之争[J].地理学报,64(9):1134-1142.[Ye C,Cai Y L.2009.Re-evaluating Schaefer and his criticizing on exceptionalism in geography:A case study on the innovation of methodology.Acta Geographica Sinica,64(9):1134-1142.]
叶超,蔡运龙.2012.区域地理与系统地理二元论的演变及其透析[J].地理研究,31(5):1-11.[Ye C,Cai Y L.2012.Causes and effects of dualism between regional geography and systematic geography.Geographical Research,31(5):1-11.]
袁涛.2017.哈佛大学地理系的解散与地理学的崛起[J].科技导报,35(14):97.[Yuan T.2017.The dissolution of Harvard university's department of geography and the rise of geography.Science&Technology Review,35(14):97.]
张晓祥.2012.1948-2006:哈佛大学地理系的灭亡与地理学的重生[EB/OL].(2012-09-16)[2018-12-18].http://blog.csdn.net/xgis2010/article/details/7983606.[Zhang X X.2012.The elimination of geography at Harvard and the rebirth of geography,1948-2006.(2012-09-16)[2018-12-18].http://blog.csdn.net/xgis2010/article/details/7983606.]
Ackerman E A.1945.Geographic training,wartime research,and immediate professional objectives[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,35(4):121-143.
Aschmann H.1962.Geography in the liberal arts college[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,53(3):284-292.
Burghardt A F.1988.On"academic war over the field of geography",the elimination of geography at Harvard,1947-1951[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):144.
Burton I.1963.The quantitative revolution and theoretical geography[J].The Canadian Geographer,7(4):151-162.
Cohen S B.1988.Reflections on the elimination of geography at Harvard,1947-1951[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):148-151.
Cresswell T.2013.Geographic thought:A critical introduction[M].Oxford:Wiley-Blackwell.
Downs R M,Liben L S,Daggs D G.1988.On education and geographers:The role of cognitive developmental theory in geographic education[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(4):680-700.
Goldsberry K.2013.The importance of spatial thinking now[J/OL].Harvard Business Review,2013-09-30.[2018-12-18].http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/09/teaching-andlearning-visualiz/?goback=.gde_1889525_member_5793226520059207684#!.
Hartshorne R.1939.The nature of geography:A critical survey of current thought in the light of the past[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,29(3):173-412.
Hartshorne R.1954.Comment on"Exceptionalism in Geography"[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,44(1):108-109.
Hartshorne R.1955.Exceptionalism in geography reexamined[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,45(3):205-244.
Hartshorne R.1958.The concept of geography as a science of space,from Kant and Humboldt to Hettner[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,48(2):97-108.
Harvard Crimson.1948a.College dooms major in geographical field[N].Harvard Crimson,1948-03-04.
Harvard Crimson.1948b.Council report criticizes elimination of geography[N].Harvard Crimson,1948-04-21.
Harvard Crimson.1948c.Geography loss puzzles Whittlesey[N].Harvard Crimson,1948-04-08.
Kitchin R,Tate N.2013.Conducting research in human geography:Theory,methodology and practice[M].London:Routledge.
Martin J.1988.On Whittlesey,Bowman and Harvard[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):152-158.
Peet R.1998.Modern geographical thought[M].Oxford:Blackwell.
Richardson D.2005.Bringing geography back to Harvard[J].Annals Newsletter,40(11):1-2.
Schaefer F.1953.Exceptionalism in geography:A methodological examination[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,43(3):226-249.
Smith N.1987.Academic war over the field of geography:The elimination of geography at Harvard,1947-1951[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,77(2):144.
Smith N.1988.For a history of geography:Response to comments[J].Annals of the Association of American Geographers,78(1):159-163.
Tadaki M,Salmond J,Heron R L,et al.2012.Nature,culture,and the work of physical geography[J].Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers,37(4):547-562.
The Center for Geographic Analysis(CGA)at Harvard University.2017.CGA Harvard:Early history of the center[EB/OL].(2017-07-25)[2018-12-18].http://gis.harvard.edu/about.