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On being a ‘real’ geomorphologist
Author(s) -
Rhoads Bruce L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290190308
Subject(s) - scientific realism , mainstream , epistemology , realism , unobservable , critical realism (philosophy of perception) , doctrine , perspective (graphical) , philosophy , philosophy of science , direct and indirect realism , sociology , computer science , theology , artificial intelligence
In a recent editorial Richards (1990) advocated a realist perspective for geomorphology. Scientific realism, defined broadly, is the doctrine that science attempts to generate true knowledge of the observable and unobservable (i.e. non‐empirical) aspects of an objective world. Various brands of realism exist; the particular version cited by Richards (1990) has not strongly influenced mainstream philosophy of science. Also, critical rationalism, which Richards (1990) contrasts with realism, fully adopts a realist perspective. In its broadest sense, realism encompasses the entire spectrum of geomorpho‐logic research, thus providing a unifying philosophical framework for geomorphology.