Explaining the Urban Planning Strategies from the Perspective of Islamic Realism: Case Study of Zanjan City

Urban planning has moved up from a set of applied techniques developed to an interdisciplinary knowledge, which is closely related to philosophical theories and the social sciences, and without relying on the social sciences, it cannot achieve the basic goals of urban planning. Thus, urban planning is based on social and philosophical schools. Urban planning systems are essential for the growth and develop ment of societies. These scientific systems are not void of morals and values and not independent from economic-political conditions and ideologies, and any individual theory and pattern advanced and estab lished in urban planning is affected by the values and cultural context of a particular intellectual system. Due to the widespread wave of globalization, the con cepts and patterns of urbanism in Iran have likewise experienced a fragmented intellectual system and identity crisis as a result of the Western approaches, with the need to redefine the patterns and founda tions of urbanism based on the culture and wisdom of the Islamic society becoming more apparent. But one of the philosophical schools that can play a major role in urban planning knowledge is Islamic realism. Is lamic realism builds on Allameh Tabatabai’s realistic ontology and epistemology, and the concept of “con tingent perceptions” represents an innovative theory advanced by Allameh Tabatabai deriving from its epis temological discourses. The main question if the pre sent study is: What are the urban planning strategies from the perspective of Islamic realism? The purpose of this study is to achieve the urban planning strate gies for the Iranian cities from the perspective of Al lameh Tabatabais Islamic realism. The present study has adopted a qualitative method and retroductive strategy. As regards nature and method, it represents a descriptive-analytical and exploratory research. In terms of objectives, is a fundamental and applied re search given its subject matter. The model test was performed using Grounded Theory method through a semi-structured and open interview with residents, specialists and managers of Zanjan city. The concepts and examples of strategies reached theoretical satu ration at the 45th interview. The results indicate that interesting urban planning strategies have been in ferred from the basics of urban planning knowledge and theoretical-conceptual implications of Islamic re alistic urban planning, among them being the neces sity of considering the urban reality layers with causal characteristics, emphasizing the innate dimensions of man in determining the desired goals and planning, utilizing a combination of scientific, collective and communicative rationality, revising planning based on the real needs of the urban society, applying value creativity and paying attention to the harmony and convergence of components in the arts and beauty of the city. Thus, in the present study an attempt was made to reveal a tiny part of the Islamic realism thought to the knowledge of urban planning for its transformation. The resultant fundamental concepts of urban planning can be viewed as preliminary and promising steps to localize the basics and intellectual system of urban planning and realization of Iranian-Islamic urban planning.