Introduction

There is no consensus on what constitutes a planning theory in academia or in practice. In this book, I will demonstrate that a scientific planning theory is possible that is based on deductive logic and experiments, the two pillars of modern science. This approach is consistent with that in natural sciences, so the philosophical foundation for the latter applies to this approach. The planning theory covered in this book focuses both on cities and plans, with decisions as the connecting crux for both. This theory leads toward a planning science that is aimed at the depth and completeness of planning phenomena for urban complexity. In this introductory chapter, I will discuss dilemmas in planning theory, followed by arguments for the interaction between cities and plans. Finally, I will show that planning can be considered as science based on the evidence provided in this book.