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Author:   Rasmus Gr Winther
Publisher:   The University of Chicago Press
Imprint:   University of Chicago Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.450kg
ISBN:  

9780226674728

ISBN 10:   022667472
Pages:   336
Publication Date:   29 June 2020
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. Introduction: Why Maps? A History and Philosophy of Map Thinking The Nature of Map Thinking-Elements of Map Thinking-Deep Mapping-Five Hundred Years of Western Mapping Maps Today Cartography Meets GIS-A Definition Based on Representation-Characterizations Based on Process and Function Three Maps Waldseemuller's Map-Guaman Poma's Countermap-Van Sant's Ultimate Map? Conclusion Part 1: Philosophy 2. Theory Is to World as Map Is to Territory Analogy Three Types of Analogy-Critical Cautions The Map Analogy A Typology of Map Analogies-Uses of the Map Analogy in Humanistic Inquiry Assumption Archaeology Conclusion 3. From Abstraction to Ontologizing The Abstraction-Ontologizing Account Abstraction Abstraction Stage I: Calibration of Units and Coordinates-Abstraction Stage II: Data Collection and Management-Abstraction Stage III: Generalization OntologizingOntologizing 0: Representation Testing-Ontologizing I: Changing the World-Ontologizing II: Understanding the World-Ontologizing III: Classroom Communication Conclusion 4. Long Live Contextual Objectivity! Pernicious Reification Contextual Objectivity Conformation-The Essential Indexical A History of the Mercator Projection I: Gerardus Mercator Mercator's Critique of Earlier Projections-Mercator's New Purpose: Navigation-Mercator's Clear Presentation of Latitude and Longitude-Mercator's Awareness of Alternative Projections A History of the Mercator Projection II: Post Mercator Integration Platforms A Beyond-Mercator Integration Platform: Blocking Pernicious Reification and Seeking Contextual Objectivity-Philosophical Aspects of Integration Platforms Conclusion 5. Projecting Maps into Our Worlds Two Canonical Philosophical Accounts of Representation: Isomorphism and Similarity The Isomorphism Account-The Similarity Account The Multiple Representations Account Ontologizing-Merely-Seeing-As-Pluralistic Ontologizing-Climate Change and Multiple Representations Conclusion Part 2: Science 6. Mapping Space Extreme-Scale Maps in Cosmology The Universe's Baby Portrait-The Universe Growing Up (and Outward)-Cosmic-Scale Maps and the Abstraction-Ontologizing Account Literal Cartographic Maps in Geology State-Space Maps in Physics and Physical Chemistry Analogous Maps in Mathematics Conclusion 7. Mapping Ourselves Migration Maps Arrowized Assumptions-Arrowized Maps-Countermapping Migration Brain Maps Decompositional Assumptions-Phrenological Maps-The Somatosensory and Motor Homunculi-Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)-Countermapping the Brain Statistical Causal Maps Linear Model Assumptions-Correlation and Causation- Genetic and Environmental Diseases-Path Diagrams as Statistical Causal Maps-When Causal Maps Become the World Conclusion 8. Mapping Genetics Building a Mapping-Genetics Integration Platform Assumptions-Terminology-Map Types The Linear Genetic Map Linear Genetic Maps of Phenotypic Linkage-Linear Genetic Maps of Nucleotides-Assumptions of the Linear Genetic Map The Gene Expression Map The Genotype-Phenotype Map The Literal Cartographic Genetic Map The Comparative Genetic Map The Adaptive Landscape Map An Analogous Genetic Map: The Tree of LifeDarwin's Hypothesis-Contemporary Phylogenies Future Extensions: Mapping Genetics as a Paradigmatic Integration Platform 9. Map Thinking Science and Philosophy Existence, World Making, and Responsibility Map Thinking Scientific Methodology Map Thinking Philosophical Methodology Assumption Archaeology-Tracking Ethics and Power-Imagining What If . . . ? An Invitation to Dream Appendix: Cognitive Map Exercise References Index

Reviews

A tour de force. Philosophers of science have increasingly resorted to analogies with maps and mapping in thinking about the relation of scientific theories and models to the world(s) they are about. Winther interrogates this usage in multiple ways: a historical overview of map-making in the West, a philosophical examination of the assumptions and commitments of map language, and in-depth studies of mapping practices in sciences from cosmology to neuroscience to genetics. Wonderfully enhanced by reproductions of maps from the many domains in which they are used, this book gives welcome philosophical substance to a widely used and increasingly central concept in studies of science. --Helen Longino, Stanford University Winther writes from a wide-ranging, multidisciplinary perspective to show the power of the map, mapping, and 'map thinking' to organize and understand complex information. In very clear prose, citing a rich literature, he explores the possibilities of mapping, as well as its limitations and hazards. Professionals in geographic information systems who read this book will expand their conception of mapping and see their work as integral to the entire human enterprise; they will reflect more deeply on what they are doing, how they do it, and why; and be encouraged to look further into the philosophical underpinnings of mapping and GIS. --Jack Dangermond, founder and president, Esri An intriguing and often brilliant book, When Maps Become the World raises profound, even fundamental philosophical questions about 'map thinking.' The map is considered here as more than simply a scientific model or abstraction but as a kind of 'metaperspective' through which the world has been understood scientifically. This is an important book on how the map can be considered philosophically as a heuristic device that has enabled and constrained the development of scientific rationality. --Michael Heffernan, University of Nottingham When Maps Become the World deservedly takes its place alongside some of the great philosophical reflections on the unique alchemy of maps. This immensely rich and deeply learned book is about the power and limitations of maps and 'map thinking' as a way of understanding cartography as well as scientific theory and practice. Moving beyond the established critique of maps, Winther provides a dazzling route for new 'map thinking' in our bewildering digital age. A superb achievement. --Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps

A tour de force. Philosophers of science have increasingly resorted to analogies with maps and mapping in thinking about the relation of scientific theories and models to the world(s) they are about. Winther interrogates this usage in multiple ways: a historical overview of map-making in the West, a philosophical examination of the assumptions and commitments of map language, and in-depth studies of mapping practices in sciences from cosmology to neuroscience to genetics. Wonderfully enhanced by reproductions of maps from the many domains in which they are used, this book gives welcome philosophical substance to a widely used and increasingly central concept in studies of science. --Helen Longino, Stanford University Winther writes from a wide-ranging, multidisciplinary perspective to show the power of the map, mapping, and 'map thinking' to organize and understand complex information. In very clear prose, citing a rich literature, he explores the possibilities of mapping, as well as its limitations and hazards. Professionals in geographic information systems who read this book will expand their conception of mapping and see their work as integral to the entire human enterprise; they will reflect more deeply on what they are doing, how they do it, and why; and be encouraged to look further into the philosophical underpinnings of mapping and GIS. --Jack Dangermond, founder and president, Esri An intriguing and often brilliant book, When Maps Become the World raises profound, even fundamental philosophical questions about 'map thinking.' The map is considered here as more than simply a scientific model or abstraction but as a kind of 'metaperspective' through which the world has been understood scientifically. This is an important book on how the map can be considered philosophically as a heuristic device that has enabled and constrained the development of scientific rationality. --Michael Heffernan, University of Nottingham When Maps Become the World deservedly takes its place alongside some of the great philosophical reflections on the unique alchemy of maps. This immensely rich and deeply learned book is about the power and limitations of maps and 'map thinking' as a way of understanding cartography as well as scientific theory and practice. Moving beyond the established critique of maps, Winther provides a dazzling route for new 'map thinking' in our bewildering digital age. A superb achievement. --Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps [Winther] blends wide-ranging, multidisciplinary perspectives to demonstrate the power of maps, mapping, and the philosophical 'map thinking' that helps explain complex information and relationships through scientific theories and models. Winther's text evaluates the promises, consequences, and perils of map thinking. . . . This well-illustrated, heavily footnoted, heady, specialized book goes a step beyond Matthew Edney's Cartography: The Ideal and Its History (2019) and the landmark 'History of Cartography' series, recalling also his study of cartographic culture in Mapping an Empire. Winther's provocative, thoughtful treatise expands familiar concepts of cartography. GIS specialists could benefit from his reflections. . . . Highly recommended. -- Choice

Author Information

Rasmus Gr nfeldt Winther is a philosopher of science, researcher, writer, educator, diver, and explorer. He is the author of Phylogenetic Inference, Selection Theory, and History of Science: Selected Papers of A.W.F. Edwards with Commentaries.

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