受早期機械化世界觀與還原論思维所支配，過去一般探討都市發展或都市演 變的研究，多數集中強調自上而下控制刻劃的傳統策略和遠離真實世界狀況的技 術結構，從而輕忽都市發展的本質，並缺乏對本質層次的論證或對話。但這些在 過去研究中被忽略的本質和對話，卻是解釋都市究竟是如何運作以及判斷都市該 如何發展的重要基礎。本研究擬針對各種隱喻或類比都市發展的主流觀點，或是 理解都市演變過程的數個主要取徑，提出一整合性之本質論證與比較，藉以探求 更為完善且貼近真實世界狀況的思考方式，並彌補過去在詮釋都市發展及都市增 長上可能的不足一特別是系統論、複雜科學（complexity sciences)與都市科學興 起後所引發的根本性轉變。本研究認為，生物有機觀點（orgarncism)及生物有機 增長的思考方式實現了機械化世界觀與還原論思维（reductionism)所無法提供 的深刻洞察，而假若我們期望成功地以整體的與永續的發展概念去規劃一個都市 甚至是整個都市體系，則未來應嘗試掌握現代都市體系複雜的及不同構面的增長 潛能，認清都市自發形成的異速生長本質，並依此原生屬性來引導及評估都市發 展計畫與決策。

Urban development theory is dominated by mechanization and reductionism, and has been studied in terms of traditional top-down control strategy and technical structure, which is far from real-world situations. Therefore, the nature of cities is neglected, and urban development issues are inadequately discussed. However, the nature of cities is important for explaining how cities work, and determining how they should develop appropriately. Therefore, this study analyzes the metaphors and analogies embedded in the major theories about urban development in order to identify theories that are based on real-world conditions. This study suggests that complexity sciences and organicism provide a better understanding than mechanization and reductionism. Achieving success with holistic and sustainable development for planning a city or an urban system requires profound knowledge of the complex growth potential of different facets of modem urban systems. Additionally, urban development plans and decisions need to be guided by the allometric nature of the spontaneous emergence of cities.