Fundamentals of Comprehensive Environmental Planning

In this paper, the goal of an improved quality of life is examined without the traditional imperative of a quantitative expression which defines the meaning of the quality of life by a completely unambiguous measurement. The utility, limitations, and bias of the analytical technique is examined relative to this goal. It is stressed that comprehensive environmental planning must increasingly account for the unexpected and positively pursue a more meaningful fulfillment of human potentialities beyond the limitations of our collective analytical mind. Past approaches to environmental planning must be critically examined with regard to current and future conditions for the historical success of such approaches may lead to their own obsolescence. It is reasoned that a fundamental concern of comprehensive environmental planning should be the protection and enhancement of compatible environmental diversity.