Philosophy of Science

Artificial Intelligence and the Feasibility of Realizing “Objectivism” in Urban Planning Practices

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Morteza Hadi Jaberi Moghaddam

Assistant professor of Urban Planning, University of Tehran

10.30465/ps.2026.52816.1796
Abstract
Proponents of objectivity, by calling upon scholars and obliging them to eliminate subjective characteristics in their engagement with natural and social phenomena, have promised the attainment of "true" theories that correspond and align with "reality." Numerous philosophers and scholars of science have critiqued this claim and rejected the possibility of its realization. With the emergence of artificial intelligence systems, and owing to their remarkable and unprecedented capabilities, the question of the feasibility of achieving objectivity is once again raised. This article examines the concept of objectivity by reflecting on prominent conceptions of artificial intelligence, particularly its applications in the field of urban planning—systems which, according to Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig's classification, fall under the category of those that "act rationally." It appears that in supervised forms of AI systems, the realization of objectivity is impossible for several reasons, including the value alignment problem. In unsupervised forms, the influence of subjective or intersubjective factors becomes deeper and more complex. Technological efforts to approach this goal in more advanced AI systems are not only improbable but would also approximate a dangerous condition.

Keywords

artificial intelligence
objectivity
subjectivity
urban planning
value alignment problem
Subjects

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