An Applied Mereology of the City: Unifying Science and Philosophy for Urban Planning
Abstract
Based on their research showing that growing cities follow basic principles, two theoretical physicists, Luis Bettencourt and Geoffrey West, call for researchers and professionals to contribute to a grand theory of urban sustainability. In their research, they develop a 'science of the city' to help urban planners address problems that arise from population increases. Although they provide valuable insights for understanding urban sustainability issues, they do not give planners a manageable way to approach such problems. I argue that developing an applied mereology to understand the concept of 'city identity' gives planners a theoretical device for addressing urban affairs, including ethical concerns. In turn, I devise a model of city identity to show how a 'philosophy of the city' contributes to a grand theory of urban sustainability.
Recommended Citation
Epting, S. R. (2016). An Applied Mereology of the City: Unifying Science and Philosophy for Urban Planning. Science and Engineering Ethics, 22(5), pp. 1361-1374. Springer Netherlands.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9696-3
Department(s)
Arts, Languages, and Philosophy
Keywords and Phrases
Applied Mereology; Environmental Justice; Participatory Engagement; Philosophy of the City; Urban Planning
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1353-3452; 1471-5546
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Oct 2016
PubMed ID
26282249
