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An Anthology of Theories and Models of Design pp 285–303Cite as

The Aristotelian Proto-Theory of Design

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Abstract

In comparing deliberation to the analysis of a geometrical figure, Aristotle made a highly significant theoretical statement on design, which has largely gone unnoticed. Through an interpretation of the accounts given by Aristotle and the Greek geometer Pappus, seven features of the method of analysis can be identified, concerning the types of analysis, its stages, its start and end points, the types of reasoning involved, the relation of the two directions of reasoning, the strategy of reasoning and the targeted outcomes. This proto-theory is compared to the current theoretical landscape of design; also it is applied to clarify a current approach to conceptual design. Based on all this, the proto-theory as a theory of design is evaluated. It is concluded that the proto-theory fulfils several of the functions of a theory in a superior and fertile way. Thus, this proto-theory is not only of historical interest, but also provides a contribution to the theoretical knowledge on design.

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Acknowledgments

Discussions with Dr. Ehud Kroll have been useful for clarifying the design interpretation of the features of the method of analysis. The helpful comments by two anonymous reviewers are also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of the Built Environment, University of Salford, Maxwell Building, Room 507, The Crescent, Salford M5 4WT, UK

    Lauri Koskela

  2. University of Salford, Salford, UK

    Ricardo Codinhoto & Patricia Tzortzopoulos

  3. University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

    Mike Kagioglou

Authors
  1. Lauri Koskela
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  2. Ricardo Codinhoto
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  3. Patricia Tzortzopoulos
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  4. Mike Kagioglou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauri Koskela .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

    Amaresh Chakrabarti

  2. Campus Limpertsberg, Université du Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Lucienne T. M. Blessing

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Koskela, L., Codinhoto, R., Tzortzopoulos, P., Kagioglou, M. (2014). The Aristotelian Proto-Theory of Design. In: Chakrabarti, A., Blessing, L. (eds) An Anthology of Theories and Models of Design. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6338-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6338-1_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6337-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6338-1

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