Constraint Ontology in Design Process

This study aims to describe and explain the metanarrative of the fundamental idea and concept of authority in traditional societies, art, and architecture. There is much evidence that the formation of art and architecture, the socio-professional organisation of craftsmen, class structure, and behaviours of the traditional societies was based on a hierarchical pyramid system of patterns or spiritual and material references. Based on the historical interpretation methods, this article investigates the role and influence of the three sources, namely, metaphysics, nature (macrocosm), and humans (microcosm), together with all the concepts, principles, and elements related to them on the theory and practice of artisans/ architects. The findings show that these authoritative sources, who reach a sacred status in a hierarchical system, have control over the formation of art/ architecture and the artisans' professional life. Indeed, the idea of authority played a decisive role and authority in organising the structure and content of artisans' guilds, granting holiness and legitimacy to their craft, determining authoritative models and patterns, and judging them. It seems that the theoretical formulation of the idea of authority and the concept of hierarchy of authoritative sources, in addition to describing some manners and principles of traditional professions, can provide a new explanation of the theoretical origins of the creation of form in the world of tradition.