In a trenchant, witty, often sarcastic style, he sets out to undermine the environmental determinism of linguists who deny that culture plays any role in the fundamental aspects of thought.

Geographical beliefs such as environmental determinism, the view that some parts of the world are underdeveloped, legitimised colonialism and created notions of skewed evolution.

The concept of environmental determinism, probabilism and possibilism are significant in the concept of environmental reasource management.

Although the branch was previously more visible in research than at present with theories such as environmental determinism linking society with the environment.

The concept of environmental determinism was developed at this time and has been accepted as valid until very recently.