The seven keys of any world view
pp. 127-143
in: Diederik Aerts, Hubert Van Belle, Jan Van Der Veken (eds), World views and the problem of synthesis, Berlin, Springer, 1999Abstract
A study of world views forces the researcher into the role of a traveler who discovers that his city map does not give him any clue as to the real life of the city—its subterranean layers, its power structure and so on. The subject World View calls up images of the Generic City by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas: The Generic City is seriously multiracial, on average 8% black, 12% white, 27% Hispanic, 37% Chinese/Asian, 6% indeterminate, 10% other. Not only multiracial, also multicultural. That is why it comes as no surprise to see temples between the slabs, dragons on the main boulevards, Buddhas in the CBD (central business district). The Generic City is always founded by people on the move, posed to move on. This explains the insubstantiality of their foundations.
