Art, Science, Modernis. Has planning experienced a Paradigm shift?

This weeks presentation was done by Laura and Jess, the reading was called The Anglo-American town planning theory since 1945: three signiŽcant developments but no paradigm shifts written by
Nigel Taylor.

The reading this week was a summary of what we have learned so far this semester through the first ten weeks of seminars. The topic of planning as an Art or Science was once again brought and the question was asked has planning had any paradigm shifts? That is to say has there been a radical change in the underlying beliefs or theory.

So has there been a shift ?

Im inclined to say both yes and no. Over the past few decades post WWII there have been many changes that have shaped planning to be what it is today. Certain aspects of science have made there way into the discipline, enabling them the luxury of being skilled in architecture and design as well as scientific analysis.
These changes over time were highlighted into a couple of key points :

1. From the planner as a creative designer to the planner as a scientific analyist and rational decision maker.

At one stage planning was primarily physical design and design based art. This was until systems and rational process theorists suggested it was a science. This did unsettle some plannners as they were required to learn aspects of scientific analysis.

2. From the planner as a technical expert to the planner as a manger and communicator

This was the definitive idea that both the art and science should be specialities that planners have to possess. They also propsed that planners have to be effective managers and communicators to ensure maximum efficiency.


Planning has experienced many changes and the battle continues to rage on about whether they are scientists, artists, mediators, facilitators or anything else you like to call it. The post modernism era has shaped many of these changes and it will continue to do so while there are so many differing opinions about the planning discipline. The bottom line is all planners wil have some knowledge of these areas, it is up to each individual which area they would like to pursue as there specialty.