作为人文地理学的核心概念,空间在全球化、信息化、人文主义、后现代主义、地理学社会与文化转向等语境下需要重新认识。首先对空间认知转变的背景进行阐释,在此基础上重点辨析国内外研究成果中对于"空间"的核心论述,把对空间的认知转变归结为4点:(1)从科学的空间到人性的空间;(2)从物质的空间到非物质的空间;(3)单纯的空间到复杂的空间;(4)从"外壳"的空间到空间里面的空间。最后提出对我国当前人文地理学研究的3点启示:(1)注重学科基础概念的重新认识;(2)重视微观层面的细化研究;(3)加强跨学科的整合研究。

Space, as the most vital key concept in human geography studies, is confronted with redefinition in face of globalization, information era, humanism, post-modernism,and the development of human geography studies. This paper tries to explain the following questions: what are the new features of spatial studies? In what backgrounds these new features emerge? To what extent these features influence spatial studies? What human geographic researchers should do to response the new features? This paper, firstly, analyzes the background of rethinking the concept of space. Secondly, the authors penalizes the pivotal variations of space from the following four perspective which are (1) scientific space to human space; (2) physical space to non-physical space; (3) simple space to complicated space; ⑷ crustaceous space to spaces beyond space. Finally, the author suggests that, (1) to pay more attention to reconstruction of concept of space. Many geographical concepts were rooted in western historic socio-economic backgrounds. So, it is necessary to localize them in the context of China; (2) to deepen the research on microcosmic research. Traditional human geography studies pay more attention to macro-middle scale spatial studies and less to micro scale such as space formation mechanism, space production laws and space meanings. The nature of space can be truly and deeply comprehended with existentialism theory; (3) to intensify multidisciplinary studies. Multidisciplinary integrative research has been a trend which can make the analysis more comprehensively, so when conducting research on spatial studies, we should integrate the relevant disciplines like geography, sociology, economics, anthropology and politics. Finally, the authors note that redefinition of space recognition is based on traditional spatial definition and is more systematic and in-depth development, which is far from complete abandonment, removal and subversion of traditional space knowledge. The only way to promote our studies is to absorb the latest achievements, to stress on practice and test of western researches on China and to localize urban geographical theories via local practice of China's socio-economic development.