GEOGRAPHICAL MATTER: SUBSTANCE AND ATTRIBUTES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the consideration of one of the urgent problems of modern geography - the substantiation of its philosophical and theoretical-methodological foundations, the definition of its own object of research and, accordingly, the concretization of its place in the system of modern scientific knowledge. Uncertainty, or rather, the presence of numerous and sometimes contradictory points of view on these issues today, deprives science not only of significant heuristic, but also of enormous practical value. The diversity of views on geography as a science, even among specialists, does not contribute to the consolidation of knowledge, prevents the formation of a unified conceptual and terminological apparatus and, worst of all, generates a frivolous attitude to the constructive possibilities of this branch of knowledge. As a system of practical values, geography needs to demonstrate a worthy theoretical foundation, a powerful ideological justification and broad philosophical support. Throughout the existence of ancient science, similar attempts have been made repeatedly. They were carried out both from the standpoint of philosophy and by representatives of the geographical community. A very brief summary of these views is given in the article. The author's own point of view on the problem is also presented. It is emphasized that the unresolved basic, fundamental issues deepen the gap between the natural and social branches of geography, contradict the logic of the development of science, and do not fit into the mainstream of the needs of modern society.