Society in space and time : an attempt to provide a theoretical foundation from an historical geographic point of view

Abstract

The idea of developing a theoretical conception for explaining anthropogene structures and processes in space and time, reverts to the early 1960´s, when I discovered latent rotation effects in the course of an investigation of population and traffic movement in various West German cities (D. FLIEDNER, 1962a). However, at the time I was not yet in a position to interpret these "cyclonic tendencies" as the expression of an universal phenomenon. Having subsequently been engaged in various historical geographic investigations, I felt it appropriate to take up the theme once again. I found further encouragement in numerous stimulating discussions with my brother, Dr. Siegfried Fliedner, Bremen, on basic and methodological problems concerning the complex of questions dealt with here. This treatise should be seen as an attempt by an anthropo-geographer to recognize phenomena, structures and processes in the scientific environment he is familiar with, to bring them into proper perspective and to understand their underlying basic order. During the course of this work it very soon became evident that a limitation of these considerations to anthropo-geographical facts and circumstances in the traditional sense could not lead to success. The fact that the conventional structure of science is rooted in a different conception of reality sometimes proved to be an impediment to a more comprehensive theoretical interpretation. Thus, it was necessary in several points to venture far beyond the limits of geography. Of course, the further away I moved from anthropo-geography, going on into related branches, the more difficult it became to evaluate the facts. However, this had to be the course of procedure, as it was also a matter of breaking the spell of isolation surrounding more or less every scientist in his own discipline. May my colleagues involved in related sciences or in those branches touched upon in this treatise not regard my exposition as an encroachment on their domain.