Axiomatics

Set of proposals logically deduced from a few non-demonstrable principles, and which, according to some, may form a basis for geographical analysis. Several types of axiomatics have been proposed :
– a geometric axiomatics defining geographical space as a set of places identified by coordinates, separated by a distance and endowed with attributes (Béguin, Thisse, 1979, see also Bunge, 1962);
– a genetic axiomatics introduced by G. Nicolas (chorologic axiom stating: “peut être géographique tout objet qui au sens statistique du terme différencie l’espace terrestre” ¹; situation axiom: “peut être géographique tout objet (matériel ou immatériel) en rapport spatial avec un objet situé (totalement ou partiellement) en un autre endroit de la surface terrestre” ² ; succession axiom);
– a theoretical axiomatics by H. Reymond (1981): “les sociétés humaines redistribuent sans arrêt et sans toujours en évaluer les conséquences, les prédicats de l’espace dans l’étendue” .”³

1. “may be geographical any object which in the statistical meaning of the term differentiates terrestrial space” (courtesy translation)
2. “may be geographical any (material or immaterial) object in spatial relationship with an object (totally or partially) located in another place of the surface of the globe” (courtesy translation)
3. human societies continually and without always estimating the consequences, re-distribute the predicates of space in the extent” (courtesy translation)