Guns, Germs, And Steel And The Theory Of Environmental Determinism

Human nature is to seek explanations for the unexplainable. To understand why and how things work, it is natural. There are many theories that attempt to explain how the world works, including topics like evolution and dark matter. Geographers, on the other hand, seek to understand how the Earth got its shape. Jared Diamond (1999), author of “Guns, Germs and Steel”, describes how the environment a society is formed determines what type of culture it will produce. His research, based on the theory of environment determinism, argues that culture is determined by nature. While environmental determinism was popular and well-known at the outset, many modern geographers find significant flaws in Diamond’s piece and the theory, which raises questions about the validity of the theory. Environmental determinism can be rooted in injustice. This leads to inequalities, and it fails to fully explain relationships between people and their environments. Although environmental determinism has been a foundation for geography theory, it is now seen as an outdated theory. In modern geography, the lack of explanations and contradictory examples that were used to support the theory are evident.

Understanding the critics of how environmental determinationism fails to fully explain the environmental/societal relationship is key. Environmental determinism is a theory that dates back to the classical and medieval eras and was rediscovered in the latter part of twentieth century. The thesis was based on the assumption that the physical environment was an independent variable that shapes human nature. This theory was resurrected in Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel (1999). Environmental determinism is a strict view, unlike other theories like Possibilism or Cultural Ecology, which can identify other possible natural and cultural interactions. Diamond uses the Polynesian Society as his case study in order to illustrate the effects on environmental determinism. He explained that Polynesian peoples with similar cultural backgrounds spread through the islands. After some time, the ‘Polynesian Island Societies’ developed and evolved “as environmentally related variations of a single ancestral Society”. Diamond believes that Diamond’s case study shows that environmental diversification is a direct predictor of the development of a human society. It is important to examine the concept and its flaws before you dive into the possible inconsistencies and incomplete ideas discovered by modern geographers. After a thorough review of Diamond’s famous piece, and the theory of environment determinism itself, there are questions about the theories controversial roots and missing components. Many modern geographers consider the theory to have troubling roots. It is often used as a justification for racism, colonialism, or imperialism. Stephen Frenkel, “Geography, Empire, and Environmental Determinism”, describes how the U.S. played a role in Panama’s industrialization and how environmental determinism influenced that development. Frenkel describes environment determinism as an ‘acceptable interpretation for American exact and actions…as the discourse that legitimized imperialism, racism’. Modern geographers do not see colonialism or racism as having any place in modern society. Diamond’s argument has many flaws. He fails to consider ‘human consciousness and desire’ and ‘political power and culture formation as determining factors in wealth distribution. Many geographers search for more comprehensive and current explanations of the missing pieces. Many people see environmental determinism without considering the influence of culture or thought on the environment. While the theory was popular and respected, decades of research has shown that human-environment relations were complex, with intertwining influences that are limited and limitations that resist single factor causal correlations. Because of its past and reproachful use, many people view the theory as outdated. However, they do not consider human effects.

Many modern examples show that environmental determinism is not valid. Countries are thriving in environments that would be considered less advanced or more stable by determinists. Ricardo Hausmann’s article “Prisoners of Geography”, similar to Diamond’s, states that the environment a society lives in will dictate its economic performance. When we look at possible counterexamples such as India, which has a rapidly growing population and high levels of development, both authors’ opinions are questioned. India’s economic growth is rapid and India has become one of the fastest-growing economies worldwide. However, India’s extreme economic growth contradicts Diamond’s or Hausmann’s main ideas. India is situated on the equator in large desert areas and mountains that should have led to a struggling nation. The extreme climate in India and its location would suggest that the community is less developed, based on Hausmann’s thesis about environmental determination. However, India has become a major international power. Diamond’s thesis is being questioned by many other countries, including India. Alternate theories like possibilism or cultural ecology have been developed since Diamond’s article. These theories offer more modern perspectives on the environment-society relation and are more commonly used. Many countries around the globe have shown that communities are capable of adapting and changing in challenging environments. There are many options for how societies can develop, and there is no one way. With a changing world and a dynamic environment, there have been many adaptive strategies implemented by people and communities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. It is an idea that Diamond disagrees with, but which describes current reactions to the environmental changes. As climate change is becoming more severe, people have to adapt and adjust to ensure their survival. Diamond claims that the environment shapes society. However, society doesn’t adapt to its environment. Many people disagree with this statement. Diamond’s view doesn’t account for human growth and development. Humans repeatedly proved that their relationship with nature is affected by their thoughts.

Diamond’s book “Guns, Germs, and Steel”, which was published in 1912, remains a vital building block for modern geographers, despite the fact that many people consider environmental determinism an outdated idea. Although it seems obsolete and unutilized, it is important that we recognize its influence on modern theories. After studying the controversial history of the theory, its strict beliefs and the failure to pay enough attention to human thought/behavior, as well contradicting examples, it is clear that the theory has many flaws. Geographers need to be open to new ideas. Geoographers have been trying to understand the human-environment relation for a long time. There are many theories and ideas. The theory is not valid if you ignore it. It has been a key building block of many modern ideas. Human nature is to try to explain everything. Since the beginning, human beings have attempted to explain everything. Although it is tempting to think that one theory can explain all of a subject, there are often multiple theories and factors that help to make the case. There are many ways to solve a problem. Sometimes, it takes many ideas to come up with a better explanation.

Author

  • ernestfarley

    Ernest is a 26-year-old education blogger and teacher who writes about a variety of topics related to teaching and learning. He has a passion for helping others learn and grow, and believes that education should be accessible to everyone. Ernest is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and he has taught high school students in the United States, Mexico, and Chile.