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The Philosophy of GIS pp 125–134Cite as

On the Distinction Between Classical and Nonclassical Geographies: Some Critical Remarks

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Abstract

In Ontological Tools for Geographic Representation , Roberto Casati, Barry Smith, and Achille Varzi have formalized and introduced the (geo-ontological) distinction between classical and nonclassical geographies . Although that distinction makes no essential reference to maps, the authors have pointed out that the dichotomy can be useful to specify the kind of geography that is implied in the spatial representation . Thus, the aim of this paper is to showcase the main assumptions behind the distinction between classical and nonclassical geography and to present some possible issues arising from its application to cartographic representation . Accordingly, the first two sections offer a short introduction to the scopes of the ontology of geography , and to the main theoretical tools needed for advancing a (formal) theory of spatial representation . The third section shows some issues emerging from the application of the distinction between classical and nonclassical geographies to the cartographic representation , by discussing (and expanding) the list of examples provided by the three authors.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    However, according to Pesaresi (2017), the ontology behind GIS could be more extensive than the three points presented here.

  2. 2.

    For an analysis of the notion of “classical geography ” in a geographical context , see Lukermann (1961), Geus and Thiering (2014).

  3. 3.

    Accordingly, Italy might also consider Kosovo as a nonspatial geographical entity, at least in this specific context .

  4. 4.

    To be more precise, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a non-UN member state recognized only by few UN member states; the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is a non-UN member state recognized only by non-UN member states; the Republic of Somaliland is a non-UN member state not recognized by any state.

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Acknowledgements

This article is a partial translation of Tambassi (2018b). Ontologia della geografia e rappresentazioni cartografiche: uno spunto critico. Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana, 1(1), 19–26. Doi:https://doi.org/10.13128/bsgi.v1i1.86. Online: https://riviste.fupress.net/index.php/bsgi/article/view/86, with some minor revisions. I am grateful to the publisher (Firenze University Press) and the editor (Margherita Azzari) for permission to use the material in question. Sections 2 has also some overlaps with Tambassi (2017a). Thanks are due to Giulia Lasagni and Paola Zamperlin. They know why.

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  1. Department of Humanities, University of Eastern Piedmont, Vercelli, Italy

    Timothy Tambassi

  2. ICUB, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Timothy Tambassi

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Correspondence to Timothy Tambassi .

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  1. University of Eastern Piedmont, Vercelli, Italy

    Timothy Tambassi

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Tambassi, T. (2019). On the Distinction Between Classical and Nonclassical Geographies: Some Critical Remarks. In: Tambassi, T. (eds) The Philosophy of GIS. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16829-2_6

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