Some thoughs about the history of "Philosophy of History" /part 7/

The prominent representative of geographic determinism is the English historian and sociologist Henry Thomas Bossel. In his main work, "History of Civilization in England," Bossel points to four natural factors on which people's historical life depends: climate, soil, food, and the general appearance of nature. The first three factors (climate, soil, food) are the basis of the economic and political system of every society. They determine the accumulation and distribution of wealth, and hence of power. The inhabitants of the warmer countries consume less food than the cold countries, which means that their population is growing at a faster rate than the inhabitants of the cold countries.

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In addition, the southern peoples use mostly vegetarian food, which is abundant in the South and is easy to buy, while the nations of the nations use more meat, which is more difficult to obtain. As the population grows faster in the south and the food is cheaper, there is less wage and poverty is higher. Riches are distributed more unevenly by forming higher classes, which are monster rich and inferior, who are plunged into destitute poverty. The uneven distribution of wealth leads to unequal distribution of power, so there are monstrous tyranny and slavery in the south. Europe is the opposite. Because of the more expensive food, population increases are slower and wages are higher. Because of the higher salary, a more even distribution of wealth, a more even distribution of power, the strengthening of freedom and democracy are being made.

If the political and economic system, the material life of society is conditioned by soil and food climate, the spiritual life of society is reversed by the fourth natural factor, namely the so-called general nature. Bossel believes that nature on the one hand can be frightened by terrible, majestic, dangerous and terrifying phenomena: hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, epidemics, and so on. This kind of nature is mainly characteristic of southern equatorial lands. On the other hand, the appearance of nature can also be woven by smaller, weaker, smoother and less destructive phenomena. This second species of nature, in his view, is inherent in Europe. From these findings, he made his conclusions: The majestic, terrible and terrifying phenomena considered Bossel to suppress the thought of man and make him incapable of scientific activity. The mighty nature intensifies its imagination and increases its superstition. So the southern peoples are people with monstrous and terrible images in their minds, people of their imagination, superstitions, the pursuit of the past.