You may recall ESC’ response to the question of “what do cities mean?” in the earlier part of this forum. Now, The Pseudonym drops some science on the topic. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic in the comments section. Join the debate and even see your entry published on the site!
The dichotomy of nature and society is often described with a negative connotation to underscore the recklessness of human society. Cities, as representations of all that is man-made, are generally the object of such criticism; that they are overcrowded, stinking places fueled by mindless stress. Not only do I believe that the dichotomy is inappropriate, but I doubt its existence.
As a product of nature, humans are as natural as the trees and the sky. Similarly, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would consider an anthill to be unnatural – the city is just as organic. The idea of the city impeding on the natural world is one that is founded on the principle that we are other than nature. Furthermore, the structure of a city as a dynamic and functional unit makes it very much like natural organisms. The city is an animal; it breathes, moves and groans. But where does that put us, as inhabitants? To take the analogy further, the constituents of the “unnatural” animal are the cells that drive production – each cell with a specialized vocational role.
Whether cities are the dystopian monstrosities they are often portrayed as depends on their condition. Like an animal, cities can become ill, and parts can lose functioning. In late 2007, the entire financial sector of NY died like a failed organ. When the “cells” of these cities become “cancerous”, they may murder and steal. Traffic has its equivalence in constipation and subway delays in indigestion. These illnesses stress the city, and by association, us as the cells. A well-functioning city is one in which the aforementioned problems aren’t influential. A city lives and breathes through its population. Metropolitans literally make the city. Whether the city is functional or otherwise depends on its citizens.
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