“Theoretical Geography” by William Bunge and its significance for cartography

Abstract

“Theoretical Geography” by William Bunge (1928–2013) was studied in detail from cartographic point of view. The history of creating this work was also considered. The book was a manifesto of a new direction in geography, based on mathematical methods and metacartography. The latter’s concept developed by Bunge formed a new look at the subject, methodology and philosophical foundations of cartography. Bunge was first to suggest the ambiguity of the map’s epistemological essence, included anamorphoses into the contents of cartographic works, presented maps and aerial photos as part of a general imaging system and correlated cartography with mathematics. He made a significant contribution to development of the transport cartography theory, to mapping methods (innovations related to development of topographic bases and application of cartographic representation methods). The author analyzes the development of this composition’s cartographic ideas by his contemporaries, as well as in the subsequent works of Bunge himself. It was concluded that the contribution of “Theoretical Geography” to cartography is not smaller than that to geographical science development.