Much of the theoretical literature in planning and human geography at present is materialist in perspective. This offers a powerful critique but locates the dynamics of urban systems too specifically in just one basic social relationship. It fails to provide an intellectual base broad enough for constructive, detailed urban analysis, partly because it fails to do justice to the reflective awareness of the individual. The alternative humanist position redresses the balance in favour of the individual but again cannot serve the practical requirements of urban analysis since it so often ignores social or contextual analysis.