Geographics for the present: Patrick Geddes, urban planning and the human sciences

Abstract

I argue here for a reconsideration of the work of Patrick Geddes as providing the elements of a viable system of natation for the developmen of appropriate settings for urban goverance and policy development which draw on a wider range of human and social science disciplines and knowledge frameworks than is currently the case. Geddes' work stands, eccentrically, at the interesection of a developing tradition of multidisplinary nineteenth-century urbanism and a susequent narpower and professionalized urban planning framework which is not attetive to, or capable of providing, the 'life managemen capacities which remain fundamental to urban of goverance. It is proposed that Geddes atempts at the convergence of the displines of geography, economics and anthropology through his adaptations of Frderic Le Play's wor on the Europan family provides more adequate basis for both analysing and managing the contemporary imperatives of governance in rapidly transforming urban and civic domains. The imperatives include the understanding of urban life-style and culturl patterns; the nature of the city as an economic unit in post-industrial economics, and the need for strategic and integrated approaches to urban policy development and planning.