Cities are Living and Organic Beings: The Ontological Implications of the Modern People’s City

Abstract

“Cities are living and organic beings” constitutes an ontological definition of the essence of the city. Grounded in Marx’s historical materialism, an examination of the ontological implications of this proposition reveals three theoretical dimensions: homology, differentiation, and people-centeredness. In this way, it transcends the functionalist, instrumentalist view of the city prevalent in Western urban theory, establishes a philosophical position that identifies people-centeredness as the ultimate source of urban vitality, and provides a theoretical foundation for the construction of the modern people’s city.