Rationality is commonly considered as a superior standard for public debate, especially when its concerns urban and regional planning. So, Attachment, commitment, or even passion, for some values, some places, are rejected from institutionalised debate, in the name of communicative rationality. This standard of rationality - even if its substantive definition is still tricky - leads us to discredit all other style of discussion that could come to the fore during the debate. Whereas communicative rationality stand out as the only root for decision, affects, emotions, and all the things people feel, are considered out of the debate. However, some authors, today agree on the fact that emotions, and other affective phenomena, that have been underestimated for a long time, have a place and a role to play in discussion about the way public policies are designed.
