The status of Public Space - Essay Example

This fact can be explained by the relationship between architect and life. More specifically, because architecture is closely connected with daily human activities (in all their aspects) its relationship with specific social and political theories and views would be considered as a normal phenomenon. Public can be closely related with architecture. As a term opposed with the individual as a unit, public has to be regarded as a fundamental element of political development in all eras. ‘Polis’ is considered to be a ‘creation’ of the Greek philosophers.

Using this term they referred to a general social framework covering a specific geographic area which is represented by the modern ‘city’. However, ‘polis’ was something more. In fact, this term had the meaning of a society in which the relationships of the citizens was close and their dependence on the political power did not based on the fear of the power of politicians to impose specific measures. It was rather a relationship of trust. In accordance with Arendt (p. 195) ‘the original, prephilosophic Greek remedy for this frailey had been the foundation of the polis; the pollis as it grew out of and remained rooted in the Greek pre-pollis experience and estimate of what makes it worthwhile for men to live together’.

In other words, Arendt finds a strong relationship between the ‘pollis’ as described above and the development of society in ancient Greece. In modern societies, the development of life is also considered to be depended on the political decisions and the general political context of each particular state. Because of the above relationship between the social and political life, the lives of people cannot be considered as organized outside of existed social frameworks as they have been developed within states throughout the years.

In this context, public can have many aspects – its social and political