Urban ordering likely arose independent of any psychological need for it

Evidence

The question of causation here raises its ugly head. Did the human’s “need” to know who the strangers were who surrounded him cause the ordering which permitted him to do so? This sort of question will aprear again in Chapter Three when the historical transition from one sort o ordering to another is discussed. There it will be easier to hazard a possible answer. But with regard to the cities of the premodern era, one can only say that the issue is clouded by historical ignorance. It is quite probable that the historical urban order developed independently of any “need” for it. That probability, however, does not gainsay its crucial role in making city life livable. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 1086

Categorization

• XREF: The functionality-vs-intent question parallels Simmel’s account of urban order emerging as a structural adaptation rather than a deliberate social project.