Theory of Housing,From Housing,About Housing

Abstract

Four positions concerning theorising housing-related phenomena are discussed. (1) Theory of housing _(v1): It is possible and desirable to construct a theory of housing to which all housing-related research topics can be related. (2) Theory about housing: It is not possible, nor desirable to try to construct a theory of housing; one should rather apply theoretical resources developed in established disciplines and research fields in theorising housing-related topics. (3) Theory from housing: It is possible and desirable to theorise housing by scrutinising the nature of housing as a special activity and experience. (4) Theory of housing _(v2): It is possible and desirable to construct a theory about the invariable relationships between features of the housing system and features of society. Theory of housing _(v1) is shown to be questionable basically due to the fact that housing is not a research topic but a common denominator of various topics. Theory about housing is acceptable with the qualification that housing research can feed back to more general theorising. Theory from housing offers a limited perspective on theorising but it can serve as a necessary check to other theorising. Problems with Theory of housing _(v2) have to do with the balance between abstract generalisation and concrete empirical/historical analysis.