I just read this Article in Parabola magazine regarding the work of Christopher Alexander. What most fascinated me in the article was a question asked by Alexander in his book, The Phenomenon of Life:

Suppose you and I are discussing this matter in a coffee-shop. I look around on the table for things to use in an experiment. There is a bottle of ketchup on the table, and, perhaps, an old-fashioned salt-shaker, both shown [below]. I ask you ‘Which one of these is more like your own self?’ […] you, your own self, in your totality.



I make it clear that I am asking which is the better picture of all of you, the whole of you: a picture which shows you as you are, with all your hopes, fears, weaknesses, glory and absurdity, and which - as far as possible - includes everything you could ever hope to be.

It may seem like a random question, but if you take it seriously, it is quite interesting. Apparently, more than percent of Alexander's subjects gave the same answer. As it turned out, it was my answer as well.

So, are you the salt shaker or the ketchup bottle?