This course is a study of the origin and development of cities throughout the world. There are two paths to understanding the city. To quote from your City Lights textbook, Firsthand experience gives acquaintance with the city. This mode of understanding is intuitive, non-linear, and holistic.
Psychologists associate it with right-brain thinking.
On the other hand, knowledge about the city comes from abstract, logical thought. This mode of understanding is analytical, linear, and rational. It may be mathematical and highly theoretical. The reality is that both paths are necessary to understand the city. In this course, we will be gaining knowledge about cities from the readings, and we will be gaining acquaintance with the city as we immerse ourselves into the city life of London.