Kant's Geography and Mental Maps

Abstract

Immanuel Kant was an enthusiastic geographer. His geographical thought was quite unmistakeably influenced by his philosophical system as a whole. This influence is particularly strong in the case of his ideas on geographical space. Kant argues that geographical space serves as a mental framework for the co-ordination of the individual's experiences of the world. In this respect he anticipates the notion of the cognitive or mental map, which geographers have recently adopted from psychological learning theory. In particular Kant stresses that it is impossible to make use of information about the world unless we have some concept of the earth's surface beyond our immediate environment. Some of the criticisms levelled against aspects of Kant's ideas on space can also be applied to the mental map concept in its present form. It is suggested that these criticisms are not as damaging or as conclusive as is sometimes thought. THROUGHOUT his university teaching career Immanuel Kant delighted in giving an annual series of lectures on the elements of geography. His biographer Jachmann assures us, in addition, that 'there is certainly no available book of travels which he has not read and graven in his memory' (quoted by Chamberlain, I914, 40). The reason for this remarkable degree of interest becomes apparent when we explore the connections between Kant's geography and his philo- sophy. There are, in particular, significant links between his conception of geographical space and the theme of space as developed in the critical philosophy. Kant's ideas on space-despite extensive criticism levelled against them (cf. Blaut, I96I; Cassirer, I954; Garnett, I939; and Harvey, 1969)- are still of some interest to geographers, especially in view of current enthusiasm for the distinctly Kantian notion of the mental map.