Geografie 2012, 117, 253-265
Hierarchical organization in reality: the concept, cognitive and practical sense of its study
This article is dedicated to the memory of Jaromír Korčák, a distinguished Czech geographer. More than 70 years have passed since Korčák published “Přírodní dualita statistického rozložení [The natural dual-nature of statistical distribution]”, in which he described the basic form of size-related distribution of geographical/environmental phenomena. This idea marks a significant advance for the study of differences in reality, a topic that to this day continues to receive little attention. Thus, the purpose of this communication is to present a broad discussion of term hierarchical differentiation/organization of reality from the perspective of basic scientific procedures (generalization and abstraction) as well as potential opportunities to utilize findings concerning differentiation in resolving regional development problems.
Keywords
hierarchical organization, regularities of differentiation, generalization, abstraction, societal and environmental systems.
