PLAN300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: John Tory, Wicked Problem, Post-Structuralism
9 Dec 2017
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PLAN 300 – RECAP 2
RECAP: PRAGMATISM AND CRITICAL PRAGMATISM
• Procedural planning theory about doing what works
o Praxis (vs theory) oriented
o Claims to be atheoretical
BUT EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO THEORY
• How do we know ‘what works’? What is it based on?
o Past experiences (time in the field; knowledge of place)
o Planner’s intuition (belief/ value system; self-reflection)
▪ Built on our own value system; vision of our past experiences.
• What are the ‘right’ experiences, beliefs, values from which to make a pragmatic decision?
o Post-modernity (plurality)
o Post-structuralism (power)
o Neoliberalism (politics)
MOVING BEYOND PRAGMATISM
• Explicitly acknowledge power and incorporate into practice.
• Respect, Reflect, Reconsider
COURSE REVIEW
• EXAM STRUCTURE
o 25% final grade
o 50 marks
o 30 marks short answer (8)
o 30 marks long answer (3)
o Assessing 3 levels in Bloom’s Taxonomy
o Apply
o Analyze
o Evaluate
o Bring 5 letter sized pages of notes
o Types or hand-written
o Double sided
o Can bring the course textbooks in!
• COURSE OJECTIVES
o Discuss the co-evolution of substantive and procedural planning theories.
o Apply planning theories to practice scenarios.
o Demonstrate critical and effective thinking skills.
o Access relevant planning to case studies.
• A2 requests for regrade must be submitted in writing by December 13th
SAMPLE QUESTIONS – SHORT ANSWER
• John Tory has announced that he would like toll major highways leading to Toronto. Choose ONE theory to support his
idea and ONE theory to oppose it. Why are these two theories the most suitable for this issue? (3)
• Are planning problems wicked problems? Justify your answer using contemporary planning issues. (4)
• How would a positivist assess transit equity? (3) .
SAMPLE QUESTIONS – LONG ANSWER
• What is the rational comprehensive model and under what ideological and theoretical perspectives as a theory in
planning? Is it a theory worth keeping, tweaking or retiring?
• You are at home over the holidays with your extended family when your Marxist cousin states: ‘Planners are a bunch
of neoliberal jerks’. Later, your grandparents ask you to explain what the cousin was talking about. Outline your
explanation making reference to the anti-planning movement.
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