Descrição
At present, there is extensive geographical research and publication focusing on the comparison among metropolises, mid-size cities, agricultural zones, and conservation units. In many cases, however, that intellectual output is not preceded by any in-depth methodological discussion, in such way that comparisons are simply made between two or more similar geographical areas. Thus, this paper aims at discussing a few themes concerning the application of the comparative method in Geography. To that end, there will be three main discussion points: (a) a conceptual framework concerning the methodological approach herein, (b) a historiographical review that seeks to establish, in the history of geographical thought, the moments in which the comparative perspective was a concern among science writers; and, at last, (c) an exploratory analysis about the adequacy of using the comparative approach in contemporary geography, taking into consideration the relative complexity of building local technical scientific informational databases. Therefore, the need to understand the relation between the creation of similarity spaces, which are generated within a global logic, and spaces of difference, which result from a local effort to preserve unique characteristics, suggests that the comparative method may play a key role in geographical studies.||Na atualidade, há inúmeras pesquisas e publicações de cunho geográfico que tratam de comparar metrópoles, cidades médias, zonas agrícolas ou unidades de conservação, por exemplo. Em muitos dos casos, porém, essas produções intelectuais não são precedidas de uma exaustiva discussão metodológica, de tal modo que as comparações são feitas a partir da escolha pura e simples de dois ou mais entes geográficos similares. Assim, este escrito possui o propósito de debater alguns temas relativos ao emprego do método comparativo na Geografia. Para tanto, serão postos em relevo três aspectos principais para discussão, quais sejam: (a) um tratamento conceitual relativo à abordagem metodológica em tela, (b) uma revisão historiográfica que busca estabelecer, na história do pensamento geográfico, os momentos nos quais a perspectiva comparativa foi alvo de preocupação entre os autores da ciência, e, por fim, (c) uma análise exploratória da pertinência do uso da abordagem comparativa pelo geógrafo contemporâneo, em virtude da complexidade relativa à constituição do meio técnico-científico-informacional nos lugares. Assim, a necessidade de compreender a relação entre a produção de espaços da semelhança, resultantes das lógicas globalmente constituídas, e de espaços da diferença, advindos da resistência dos lugares em manter as características que os singularizam, permite afirmar, enfim, que o método comparativo pode jogar um papel fundamental nos estudos geográficos.
Abstract
OLD APPLICATIONS AND NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR THE USE OF COMPARATIVE METHOD ON GEOGRAPHICAL STUDIES
At present, there is extensive geographical research and publication focusing on the comparison among metropolises, mid-size cities, agricultural zones, and conservation units. In many cases, however, that intellectual output is not preceded by any in-depth methodological discussion, in such way that comparisons are simply made between two or more similar geographical areas. Thus, this paper aims at discussing a few themes concerning the application of the comparative method in Geography. To that end, there will be three main discussion points: (a) a conceptual framework concerning the methodological approach herein, (b) a historiographical review that seeks to establish, in the history of geographical thought, the moments in which the comparative perspective was a concern among science writers; and, at last, (c) an exploratory analysis about the adequacy of using the comparative approach in contemporary geography, taking into consideration the relative complexity of building local technical scientific informational databases. Therefore, the need to understand the relation between the creation of similarity spaces, which are generated within a global logic, and spaces of difference, which result from a local effort to preserve unique characteristics, suggests that the comparative method may play a key role in geographical studies.
