Abstract
It is generally accepted by town planning theorists that there is an approach to planning which may be termed “organic”; moreover, it is widely held that the organic approach is a valid and proper one. Consequently, the term “organic” has achieved a firmly entrenched position in the planner's vocabulary. The concept, however, has not been adequately defined, and the loose usage of the term indicates a wide spectrum of meaning. This paper is concerned with postulating the validity of the organic concept; with attempting a more precise definition of the term; and with examining the organic connotations of some of the more significant town planning theories in the light of the concept as here defined.