HOW CAN THEORETICAL CARTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTE TO GISCIENCE: A PHILOSOPHY PERSPECTIVE

摘要

So far most GISs depend heavily on Euclidean Geometry. However, much research reveals that the structure of geographic information is not merely a geometric matter, instead, more an ontological, epistemic and linguistic matter. Both Theoretical Cartography and GIScience are confronted with the demand of theory and paradigm development. Theoretical Cartography can contribute to GIScience for its predating concern with some essential issue of geographic knowledge system. Two significant turns in philosophy give us hint to investigate the development of geographic knowledge system from outside and yet higher perspective. To make GIScience a real science we need common effort of Cartography and GIS community.