The urban effect is the culmination of a learning process that has made civilization what it is today. The city has historically functioned as a center for information, knowledge and wisdom. It is only sensible that some of us, as we begin to grasp an understanding of the human reality, will struggle to create more effective ways from which to observe reality from a benevolent, compassionate, whole systems approach, minimizing human impacts by concentrating human populations within dense and compact urban areas. One way to do this might be instructing people on how to create alternative socioeconomic systems.
But it gets back to the idea of what an Arcology really is? I dont think its about "maxxing out " density and packing people into a so called 3-d Arcological city like sardines. Rather, I think its about considering what a maximum level of density might be for people in a urban space. But also to consider how to live in a way that maximizes human potential and collective intelligence so that we have a practical model of what I term an "accelerated urban effect." Thats Arcology in my view, its accelerating the already obvious benefits of the city using modern technology (combined with knowledge about how to do things better...some might call this wisdom) in a appropriate way - maximizing human potential while minimizing the negative social and environmental impacts of modern life.
For Comparison:
Urban Effect: Soleri believes the city is necessary for the further blossoming of humanity because of its intensity as a tightly knit cultural magnet. A redensification of urban space, is exactly the converse of the current emptying of the high density inner city urban areas into the sprawling peripheral edge city zones of suburbia.
Suburban Effect: In NYC people pay high prices to live in what would in other parts of the country been seen as substandard housing so that they can experience the cultural and social diversity of urban life that is uniquely New York. The suburban effect is dramatized by what Soleri calls the global hermitage. Although he usually uses this terminology when referring to virtual reality, the suburbanization phenomenon is actually related to the way in which technology is being used as a device to pull us apart from authentic human experiences.
Rural Effect: While pretty much ignored by Soleri, the rural effect is actually very important to the human experience. While there is much to learn from rural people in many parts of the world, its that certain part of the rural folk who really have the most to offer, that is those who are closest to an "indigenous" and self-reliant way of life that is informed by a natural wisdom of how life works and sustains us on this earth. Indigenous cultures have been really the only groupings of people that have been able to consistently achieve a level of authenticity in their personal interactions that allows for cultural expressions, community interactions, natural experiences that cement us to a powerful and clearly defined sense of place. This connecting with the world around is vital for the discovery and fulfillment of our life purpose