PERCEIVING REGIONS AS SCATTERED OBJECTS∗

∗I would like to thank Professors Keith Lehrer, Leland R. Pederson, Thomas F. Saarinen, reviewers Roger Downs and Milton Harvey, and fellow students Adrian Esparza and Gary G. Peterson for their comments and suggestions.

Abstract

It is possible to consider regions and concrete objects to be identical by defining both as scattered objects. The argument also maintains the role of mental abstraction, significance, and choice in discerning regions. This reconsideration of one of the field's major concepts asks geographers to think about ontological questions, and ponder the nature of regions and how they are to be presented and analyzed.

Key Words:

• region
• concrete object
• scattered object
• perception
• elementals
• structural association
• scale

Notes

∗I would like to thank Professors Keith Lehrer, Leland R. Pederson, Thomas F. Saarinen, reviewers Roger Downs and Milton Harvey, and fellow students Adrian Esparza and Gary G. Peterson for their comments and suggestions.