Lucas
After 40 years in mathematics I have come to understand that generalisation
comes after a process of something akin to description and in many cases
where we see examples of very succinct formalism it is really the result of
many examples and exercises in a "descriptive" environment.
Perhaps the answer lies in the interpretion of deductive -V- inductive
reasoning. Maybe some highly motivated student should investigate an
axiomatic system that would be dedicated to underpinning both the philosophy
and application od SS.
Tony Donegan
Dr HA Donegan
Reader (Mathematics Division)
School of Computing and Mathematics
University of Ulster
Jordanstown
BT37 0QB
Tel: 028 90 366589 or 90 366841
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lucas Figueiredo" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 6:45 PM
Subject: Description and Generalisation
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I am writing something and I stuck in an important question. Space
> Syntax has been born as 'descriptive theory', supporting the theory of
> the social logic of space.
>
> Axial lines and convex polygons were proposed to describe space in one
> and two dimensions. Decomposing a continuous system of open spaces
> into recognisable objects and establishing their elementary relations
> (Hillier and Hanson 1984, p52).
>
> On the other hand, 'Generalisation' is a process of attenuating a
> spatial patterns while retaining its most important characteristics. I
> thought that generalisation requires a previous description, but
> apparently some authors believe that generalisation itself is a tool
> for describing and analysing cities - therefore there is no necessity
> to mention space syntax.
>
> If this is correct, another consequence is that 'continuity lines' are
> undertood as a result of generalisation process, therefore they could
> not ever be proposed as an 'descriptive entity' as I have done, based
> on axial lines.
>
> I used to undertand that generalisation could be used to formalise the
> creation of 'descriptive entities' for space syntax techniques. On the
> other hand, space syntax techniques could be used help generalisation,
> as pointed by WA Mackaness in the past, or Robert Thomson recently.
>
> I might be wrong. Is space syntax a subcase of generalisation?
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Best Regards,
> --
> Lucas Figueiredo
>
> Mindwalk
> http://www.mindwalk.com.br
>
>
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