PHYSICS OF THE CITY
OR/AND
COGNITIVE CITY?
Giovanni A. RABINO1
1 Di.A.P. – Dept. of Architecture and Planning, Politechnic
of Milan, P.za Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133, Milan,
Phone: +39.02.2399.4102,
Email: giovanni.rabino@polimi.it,
Website: www.rabinogiovanni.it
SUMMARY
Why natural scientists/professionals and human
scientists/professionals are reasoning so differently?
• A frame for interpretation
• Differences explained
An example: physics of the city and cognitive city
• Econophysics and psychological economy. What are they?
• Antithesis and recomposition.
WARNING!
For sake of clarity, in the following slides
I go to the extremes
in describing epistemological, methodological … positions,
BUT
all of us know that
in the real world
scientists and professionals have not so schematic minds
To begin: A closer look to knowledge nature
Conscious
use *
Whole
knowledge
Natural
Scientist
Conscious
knowledge
Human
Scientist
Inconscious
use *
* of own knowledge type
Three kinds of divergence:
1. Divergence at epistemological level
A forma mentis rooted in a
HOLISTIC CULTURE
A forma mentis rooted in a
REDUCTIONIST
SCIENCE
Examples:
Examples:
• focus to phenomenology
• focus to ontology
• intentionally rough
definition of concepts
• attempt to an exact
definition of concepts
•…
•…
Three kinds of divergence:
2. Divergence in methodological approaches
A preference for a real and
generalist knowledge
A preference for abstract
and specialistic thinking
Examples:
Examples:
• focus to decoding reality
• focus to encoding models
• non formal methods for
design
• formal models for
analysis
•…
•…
b
Socially relevant
development issue
c
System knowledge
a
Action domain
Observable
(workable
sustainability
definition)
1
Abstractions
4
Model of the
observable
2
Mental models
3
Knowledge levels of the observable
Model domain
Model structure
Purpose of the model
Urban actors and activities
Analytical perspectives
Allocation and spatial patterns
Observation, information
Drive of spatial processes
User interface
and evolution
Links belonging to the external loop
Links belonging to the internal loop
Elements more sensitive to simulation
Three kinds of divergence:
3. Divergence in practical applications
A mind orientation to
exploitation of professional
expertise
A mind orientation to
scientific discovery
Examples:
Examples:
• looking at empathy with the
customer on the problem
• looking at the best setting
of the problem
• searching the most passable
solution for the customer
• searching the most rational
solution
•…
•…
An example of “physics of the city” approach:
D. Helbing’s modelling of traffic or stampede in panic situations
An example of “cognitive city” approach:
G. Rabino’s modelling of tourists movements
D. Helbing’s modelling of traffic or stampede in panic situations
Focus to the SYSTEM of Agents
 attention to:
configuration of the system (agents’ density, etc.)
physical “geometry” of the environment
interactions between actions of agents
 characteristics of agents as control variables
G. Rabino’s modelling of tourists movements
Focus to the system of AGENTS
 attention to:
psychology of agents (rationality, learning, …)
interactions agent-system (perception, decision …)
interactions between actions and psycho of agents:
 interactions of agents as control variables
Physics of the city as a case of ECONOPHYSICS
Econophysic websites (example):
Physics of the city as a case of ECONOPHYSICS
Econophysic books (examples):
Physics of the city as a case of ECONOPHYSICS
Econophysic: the principles
Cognitive city as a case of COGNITIVE SCIENCES
Cognitive science websites (example):
Cognitive city as a case of COGNITIVE SCIENCES
Cognitive science books (examples):
Cognitive city as a case of COGNITIVE SCIENCES
Cognitive science: the principles
ECONOPHYSICS and COGNITIVE ECONOMY: the differences
On the background, 2 (untill now) open questions:
• are consciousness and intentionality epi-phenomena?
• can “rational modelling” simulate non-rational behaviour?
Differences in methods:
• ECO: Refined analytical apparatus (master equation, network theories, …)
• COG: Algorithmic procedures to handle not-explicit knowledges
Differences in theories:
• ECO: to use “universal” principles (eq. of continuity; concept of “field”; …)
• COG: to make agents real “human” agents
ECONOPHYSICS and COGNITIVE ECONOMY:
a possibility for reconcilement
THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT METHODOLOGICAL LEVEL
e. g. : Multi-level – multi-agents modelling:
System of agents
11
2
32
Agent as a system
1
2
32
THE REAL PROBLEM IS IN “FORMAE MENTIS”:
The need (the hard task) is that each other know and truly
understand the other culture and scientific paradigm
In conclusion, what we need is ….
Conscious
use *
A new kind
of Scientist
Whole
knowledge
Natural
Scientist
Conscious
knowledge
Human
Scientist
Inconscious
use *
* of knowledge type
Email: giovanni.rabino@polimi.it
Websites:
My site:
http://www.rabinogiovanni.it
Site of geographical models and methods:
http://www.geomemo.org
Thanks for your attention