Lecture 2 Flashcards
(23 cards)
Give a recap of Lecture 1
Planners lie in between communicative and technicasl paradigms.
We can see hidden structures, patterns that come back every time: fractals. Repetitive patterns.
Two patterns:
* linear patterns from us: we’re all cubes. We want things to be functional
* non-linear patterns: nature it’s unsure where things go.
–> we can’t be fully linear or fully non linear
Uncertainty is fundamental.
Why can’t the world be in an absolute sense in planning?
Because the world is not stable like in physics. It’s constantly changing with high dynamics. There are fundamental patterns in reality.
What is theory?
- Building trust: sort of helpful. Abstraction
- Abstract reasoning: simplified way of looking at reality helping us explain and think through to hopefully predict.
- Simfpliciationk, representation, abstracting
- Communication about what reality is. They help us explain what reality really is.
Difference between theory of the natural and the social sciences?
Natural sciences represent a world that is fully stable. For example mathematics is very exact. Exactness produced in a coherent system. Laws matter everywhere. WOrld they are looking at is stable/static. In natural sciences they exclude the context.
Sociasl sciences: changes might happen on the spot. It is highly dynamic. Interactions between people are constantly happening. In social sciences the context is essential.
What is the difference between normative theory and descriptive theory.
Normative theory does not explain but tells us about the world autonomy. How the world ought to be. It’s conditioned by ideal type, arguments, cultural (liberal world, things will evolve), political (how the future will look like), Ethical (In physics there are no ethics).
Descriptive theory is about explaining and about how the world is. It is much more empirical.
Name examples of normative theories
- Sustainability
- Spatial quality
- Kevin lynch: vitality, sense, fit
- Jane Jacobs, at the edge of normative and prescriptive four conditions to create liveable cities:
o Mixed uses
o Short bocks
o Buildings of various ages
o Density
Examples of descriptive theory?
Central place Theory of Walter Chrystaller.
Multiple Layer Approach
Explain what proto theory is.
- Can this abstraction contribute to understanding?
- Horst Rittel: tamed problems and wicked problems
o Wicked: full of uncertainty. Cope with them. - Transitions have to be acknowledged: two stable levels of staibility
o Transition where a white circle transforms into a square. Structure and function change completely.
If theory is an on-going discussion, a collection of arguments and reasonings
Won’t this lead to ‘pick and mix’? Or a fight for dominance of ideas? Likely so, however here we try to explore the
idea that every theory has a specific
allocation within the realm of theories
Depending on the object of study a specific theory or mix of theories prevails. Planning therefore above all is…
Planning theory is above all an ongoing discussion about thoughts in and of planning. These thoughts we would like to allocate within a wider frame of reference.
What is Planning Theory according to Allmendinger?
Planning theory, in essence, is about bridging the gap between modern and post-modern thinking, within the realm of decision-making relating the daily environment: ‘Framing theory’
What then is framing theory?
Relates to all kinds of other disciplines like sociology, philosophy, mathematics, took everything from that and embedded it in all kinds of discussions.
Name characteristics of Technical Rationality.
- Reality perspective with a logic to act.
- Planner sbelieve they are in control through technical rationality: ordering principles, rationality connects people.
- ‘We are the experts, we will fix it for you and decide everything that’s necessary’.
Explain thesis and anti-thesis
Two opossing worlds –> turn into academic method. Synthesis: forming new knowledge based on the two opposing worlds in a sense. –> development of science.
What is dialectics?
Knowledge develops through a confrontation of opposing views. this then leads to a step forward.
Characteristics of post-modernism
- Deconstructive: of principles that the world is beyond our perspective
- No monism & dualism
- Anti-foundationalism: no real certainty to gain.
- Plurality and differences: perspectives do matter.
Explain differences between modernism and post-modernism
- Determinancy vs. indeterminancy
- Repetitive vs. incommensurability
- Consistency vs. variance
- Uniform vs. diversity
- Straight-forward vs. complexity
- Value-free vs. intentionality
Differences between modernism, post-modernism and late-modernism.
Modernism: claims a certainty about reality that is not there –the end of objectivity. Factual reality
Post-modernism: claims nothing but
uncertainty –the end of generalisation / universality
Late-modernism: it is a matter of agreement (inter-subjectivity). Agreed reality
Explain the duality in philosophy and science
Object oriented/observation/material/ realism (Facts) <-> inter subjective, interaction, moral, relativism (value)
–> you interact with people. You need the other to understand. observing and judging what you observe. We cannot observe without judgement.
Facts do not say anything without context, story or value. Pure facts are meanlingless unless you have a story to which it relates.
Modernism’s starting situation is that if you have the facts, you will know it all at some point. It relates to other concepts like explained in the lecture. Use scientism, positivism, foundationalism and absolutism in your answer.
- Scientism: only relevant knowledge
- Positivism: facts have to be vverified
- Foundationalism: deep enough digging: essence of knowledge
- Absolutism: absolute certainty
–> No doubt at all.
Explain the S - O - IS model. What does everything stand for and how do the concepts relate to each other.
Our valuesystem takes steps. Values shift when the context changes. Facts and values continuously balance.
Subject gets information from the world through observations and you discuss about it with others: inter-subjective interaction.
How does this S - O - IS model relate to the spectrum of planning?
It tells that Technical rationality and communicative rationality interact with each other. You need more of the factual side, but without interaction these facts are meaningless. There is thus interaction between both spectrums needed.
Explain the model. What does the yellow circle stand for?
The yellow circle shows most of the issues are in the middle. In between Technical rationality and communicative rationality. Technical rationality is more object oriented (focus on content/goals. Facts and events).
Communicative rationality is more inter-subject oriented (focus on interactions between actors and valuing).
Out of the different kinds of theories we discussed. To which form of planning does normative theory and descriptive theory fit the most?
Normative fits the most to communicative rationality. More uncertainty. How the world ought to be.
Descriptive theory, explaining and with certainty relates to TR.
