On the raison d'etre of physical geography

Abstract

We are undergoing a paradigm shift from the modernism based on modern science and technology that began in Europe in the seventeenth century to a new era and a new perspective on life. Reviews are made on the originality of scientific achievement, philosophy and methodology in science, and the meaning of information concerning regional differences. The raison d'etre of physical geography is discussed stressing its role to integrate various regional information into a monograph as part of the geohistory of our planet. A hypothesis on the feedback effect of the uplift of the Himalaya mountains and the Tibetan plateau on global climate as a factor in generating the past glacial and interglacial rhythm after 0.73 Ma BP is given as an example of integration of the regional information obtained from various disciplines. -English summary