First Explanation
According to the International Geographical Union (1), geography is a multifaceted discipline that seeks to explain how one component of the environment merges with another in their natural elements. This merger also defines how the society produces and organizes itself to either complement the natural process or inhibit/destroy it altogether (International Geographical Union 1).
The human role in understanding geography surfaces in this regard. Through this conceptualization, geography describes how different human factors interact with nature to produce the society’s understanding of the environment.
Different issues are in play here. Some of them include the interaction of space, places, and regions to provide a pattern of eventual geographical outcomes, both in the short-term and long-term (International Geographical Union 1).
Through the above understanding, the contribution of geography to existing bodies of knowledge is more precise because the interaction of the natural environment and human realms denote the interaction of space and environment.
Here, the role of human realms in geography symbolizes the role of space in understanding geographical processes (these are the principal notions of studying geography) (International Geographical Union 2).
However, the International Geographical Union (2) says, in some spheres, space defines the interaction of the environment and human activities but considering natural processes are already defined by environment, the concept of space tends to rely a lot on human activities.
Geography therefore provides a more integrated and holistic understanding of the interaction between space and the environment to provide people with a more in-depth understanding of their environments, regions and places. This understanding provides a deeper understanding of how different regions relate and how human factors and natural processes in one place may affect the environment in another place.
This way, decision-making processes (involving geographical factors) simplify and the subsequent planning, forecasting, and predicting processes become more holistic and interactive (International Geographical Union 2).
Second View
Unlike the first view of geography, Geography Today (1) provides a broader and deeper understanding of geography. It says geography is a broader understanding of the world we live in.
Through this conviction, geography stands out as a crucial platform for understanding the characteristics of the earth, like the people who inhabit the world, the landscape that supports human life, places, and environments.
Through this explanation, Geography Today (2) posits that the understanding of geography is essential in providing a compromise between human science and physical sciences.
Unlike the first view, the involvement of human elements in understanding geography stretches to the inclusion of culture, political systems, and economies – to understand how such social, economic, and political dynamics interact with the environment.
Therefore, through this understanding, geography shows how the inequalities, similarities, and differences among these factors interact to describe our environment. In addition, through the same analysis, geography stands out as an ideal platform to show how different disciplines merge into one framework of analysis (Geography Today 2).
Through this understanding, it is common to see geographers consulted as critical contributors when making crucial decisions regarding resource distribution and environmental management.
Comprehensively, in its broadest understanding, geography provides a manual to explain how people should live and interact with the environment.
Regardless of the methodology of learning, the understanding of geography produces well-informed citizens who consequently become knowledgeable and sensitive to environmental factors. This way, it is easier to understand how the world is interconnected (Geography Today 2).
Works Cited
Geography Today 2012. What is geography? Web.
International Geographical Union 2012. What is Geography? Web.