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Ekistics is the term coined by Constantinos Apostolos Doxiadis as the science of human settlements. Doxiadis defines 4 principles of Ekistics for solving the problems of human settlements. The following is taken from an article in Ekistics V14, 1962.
1. Unity of Purpose:
In order to succeed, we should understand the importance which the unity of purpose has for all projects, programs and policies. We cannot be successful unless we understand that all efforts should be equally satisfied from the economic, the social, the political, the administrative, the technical and the cultural-aesthetic points of view.
2. Heirarchy of functions:
It is an imperative necessity that the hierarchy of functions must be understood.
All functions should belong to a pyramid set in a hierarchical way. Only when we understand that every function needs a different solution depending upon its hierarchical level can we lead towards a successful result.
3. Four-dimensional synthesis
Many people think that problems and solutions are two dimensional, some more knowledgeable think of three dimensions. But the fact is that we have to understand that all projects, with the exception perhaps of some monuments, are four-dimensional, as it is indispensable that we must think of their evolution in time.
4. Many masters creating many scales
In the past there was only one scale in human settlements: the scale of man. Later the scale of the motor-car was added, then the scale of the airplane and now, the scale of rockets; we may even have others. We have to think of the fact that every new element of life and transportation on this earth needs a new master, who needs a correspondingly new scale.
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