The course presents the main paradigms that were incorporated in modern geography. The context in which each paradigm evolved within geography, the theoretical and methodological principles, relevant terminology, and the criticism of the paradigms will be discussed.

After discussing the development of the core scientific principles that were established since the scientific revolution, the course will turn to critically examine the development of geography as a scientific discipline while emphasizing its development since the beginning of the 20^th century. Main paradigms that will be discussed include environmental determinism, regional geography, positivism, Marxists and humanistic approaches that were adopted in the 1970s’, postmodernism, data-driven research and theories of complexity which are being adopted in the 21^st century.

The aims of the course are to introduce students with the dynamism and pluralism of the geographic discipline, to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the main geographical paradigms and to present the unique methodological approaches that are used in each of these paradigms.