艺就需要概括总结先前的经验。在他们日常工作中，规划者可能要更多的依赖直觉而不是明确的理论；然而这个直觉可能实际上是被同化了的理论。在这种情况下，理论代表累积的专业知识。尽管许多工作的规划者可能是研究生教育的规划理论看做呆板的和不相关的，以及看到在其专业工作一种朴素的，快节奏的实用主义理论来允许一个人看到了这个“实用主义”的条件。正如凯恩斯警告作为一个不知情的奴隶思想的一个已故经济学家，我们相信，它也可能是一个奴隶的思想一个规划理论家
We do not envision completely eliminating the gap between theory and practice: doing so would deny the power of each. Often decried, this gap can structure a powerful creative tension between the two. Nevertheless, we do believe that theory can inform practice. Planning theory is not just some idle chattering at the margins of the field. If done poorly, it discourages and stifles: but if done well, it defines the field and drives it forward. We address themselves to the questions planners must ask if they are to be effective, and we include case studies of planning in action with this purpose in mind.
我们不想完全消除理论与实践之间的差距:这样做将会否认各自的力量。经常被描述为，这两者之间的差距可以构建一个强大的创造性张力。然而，我们相信理论可以指导实践。规划理论不是一些闲置的喋喋不休的边缘领域。如果做得不好，它阻碍和扼杀但如果做得好，它明确了领域，并推动它向前。我们致力于规划的问题要问他们是否是有效的，我们有这个目的的行动规划的案例研究。
Beyond this intention, we aim to establish a theoretical foundation that provides not only a field with a common structure for scientific inquiry but also a means for defining what planning is—especially in the intimidating company of more established academic disciplines. Theory allows for both professional and intellectual self-reflection. It tries to make sense of the seemingly unrelated, contradictory aspects
of urban development and creates a rational system with which to compare and evaluate the merits of different planning ideas and strategies. It also allows planners to translate their specific issues into the language of more general social scientific theory so that planning may interchange ideas with other disciplines.
除了这个目的，我们的目标是建立一个理论基础，它不仅提供了一场科学探究的一个共同的领域也意味着定义了什么是规划，特别是在更成熟的学科领域。理论允许专业知识的自我反思。它试图弄清楚看似不相关的，矛盾的城市发展的各方面，并建立一个合理的制度，以比较和评估不同的规划思路和策略的优劣。它也允许规划者将他们的具体问题翻译成一般的社会科学理论语言以至于规划可以与其他学科交流。
A well-developed theoretical foundation serves as a declaration of scholarly autonomy, often institutionalized in the form of a planning theory requirement for master?s degree programs and professional certification in city planning. The relatively: recent expansion of Ph.D. programs in planning goes hand in hand with the rise of planning theory. Such programs are used not only to increase research in planning departments: they also reflect the ability to develop the discipline?s own theoretical foundations. A Ph.D. program also uses theory to distinguish and elevate itself from its larger counterpart, the professional master?s program.
一个成熟的理论基础作为一个学术自主申报制度化，经常在一个硕士学位项目和城市规划专业认证规划理论要求的形式中进行。比较：在规划博士项目最近扩展齐头并进的规划理论的兴起。这种方案不仅被用来增加规划部门研究：他们也反映出学科自身的理论基础的能力。一个博士方案还通过理论去区别和提升自身较大的对口专业硕士课程。
Our Approach to Planning Theory规划理论的方法
Our approach is to place planning theory at the intersection of political economy and intellectual history. We do not see it, however, as mechanistically determined by these two forces. Those who misuse structural theory will inevitably fall victim to a sense of helplessness in the face of predestined social forces. Instead, the planner should use theory to consider how the local and national political economy, in addition to the field?s own history, together influence the collective imagination of the discipline?s possibilities, limitations, and professional identity. The challenge for this professional—and sometimes activist—discipline is to find the negotiating room within the larger social structure to pursue the good city.
我们的方法是将规划理论放置在政治经济和思想史的交叉口之中。然而，我们并不把它看做是机械地取决于这两股力量的。那些滥用结构理论的人将不可避免地陷入一种无助当面对注定的社会力量时。相反，规划师应该用理论来考虑地方和国家政治经济领域，除了领域自身的历史，学科可能性的共同影响，限制的集体想象，和职业身份。本专业的和许多活动家学科面临的挑战是找到更大社会结构中的领域去追求良好的城市。
We also place planning theory at a second intersection: that of the city as a phenomenon and planning as a human activity. Planning adapts to changes in the city, which in turn is transformed by planning and politics. This interaction is not a closed system. Planners not only plan cities; they also negotiate, forecast, research, survey, and organize financing. Nor do planners have an exclusive influence over cities; developers, businesses, politicians, and other actors also shape urban development. The result is that the discipline of planning is influenced by a wide variety of substantive and procedural ideas beyond its own modest disciplinary boundaries.
Studies of planning refer to works in political science, law, decision theory, and public policy.
我们还将面临规划理论的第二个相交：这个城市作为一种现象和规划作为一种人类活动。规划适应着城市中的变化，反过来，城市又通过规划和政策而转变。这种相互作用不是一个封闭的系统。规划师，不仅规划城市;他们还洽谈，预测，研究，调查，并组织融资。规划者也不是唯一对城市产生影响的人，开发商，企业，政治家，和其他演员也塑造城市发展。其结果是，规划学科受到了各种各样的实质性和程序性想法的影响，这些想法超越了自身微薄的学科界限。规划研究是指在政治学，法学，决策理论和公共政策中的工作。