Doing Good and Being Right The Pragmatic Connection in Planning Theory

Abstract

Mainstream American planning theorists have adopted a concept of planning that is amazingly similar to the concept of human action proposed by the philosopher John Dewey. Like Dewey, they have built a bridge to close the gap between being right and doing good, using a scaffolding that combines identification of problems, formulation of plans, and democratic participation. Unfortunately, these mainstream theorists overlook the limits of this pragmatic connection, overestimating the efficacy of instrumental problem solving and underestimating the effects of an uneven distribution of power.