Final answer:
Environmental determinism in geography is the outdated idea that the physical environment is the main determinant in shaping human cultures and behaviors. It has now been replaced by more nuanced fields like cultural ecology and environmental geography that analyze the interplay between human activities and the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental determinism in geography refers to the philosophical concept that the physical environment, including factors such as climate, topography, and soil characteristics, shapes human behaviors and cultural practices. This discipline emerged in the 19th century when geographers attempted to provide more scientific explanations for regional differences in cultural practices. They posited that the most advanced societies developed in places with favorable environmental conditions. However, environmental determinism later faced significant criticism for its implications on topics like eugenics and the development of Fascism, leading to a tainted reputation of the discipline for decades.
Today, the study of human-environment interactions is more nuanced and falls under fields like cultural ecology and environmental geography, which both require an understanding of physical and human geography, as well as the spatial relationships and cultural perceptions of the natural environment. Environmental determinism has largely been abandoned by modern geographers due to its simplistic and deterministic views, which often encompassed ethnocentric and racist ideologies. Cultural ecology, by contrast, seeks interrelationships between cultural practices and emphasizes cultural integration, where ideas, practices, and traditions from one cultural realm may affect others, creating a more holistic understanding of human-environment interactions.