For a new Dark Age in urban theory

In ‘On Resisting the Seduction of Theory’, Robert Lake suggests theory is not fit for purpose. In this commentary, I suggest theory doesn’t mean what he thinks it means and that his envisioned alternative of ‘doing’ won’t, in the current moment, produce the results he seeks. In lieu, I propose that an ethics of both knowing and doing might be what urban academics most need right now.

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Publication Details

Journal
Dialogues in Urban Research
Published
2025-02-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/27541258251321379
Primary Topic
Urban Planning and Governance
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

For a new Dark Age in urban theory

CS Ponder
Dialogues in Urban Research
Urban Planning and Governance
article

For a new Dark Age in urban theory

CS Ponder
article en

Abstract

In ‘On Resisting the Seduction of Theory’, Robert Lake suggests theory is not fit for purpose. In this commentary, I suggest theory doesn’t mean what he thinks it means and that his envisioned alternative of ‘doing’ won’t, in the current moment, produce the results he seeks. In lieu, I propose that an ethics of both knowing and doing might be what urban academics most need right now.

Dialogues in Urban ResearchVol. 3(1)
The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
Urban Planning and Governance
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For a new Dark Age in urban theory — CS Ponder · Dialogues in Urban Research (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS