194
Within the region (R), that contains (n) points; there are (2
n ) distinguishable subregions. A typical subregion
is then named (S i ). What follows is that we construct (W) by recognising that there are different relative degrees
of coherence that may be observed in the different subregions of (S i ). The regions of space have got coherence,
and each subregion includes different relative degrees of coherence. The levels are called life, and the structure
of the wholeness (W) relies on the distinctions of life that are explicit, and are used to erect structure. To make
the different degrees of life explicit, the introduction of measures of life (c) is introduced on the subregions of
(R). Each possible subregion is represented by (R), (S i ) with (i) ranges from (1) to (2
n
). The life of the i-th subregion (S i ) is then to be (c i ). Each (c i ) is a number between 0 and 1, and every subregion of (R) is to be given a
measure of life. The most coherent regions have a (c i ) that is close to 1 and the least coherent regions have a (c i )
that is close to 0 or close to 0
2 (Alexander, 2001–2005a, pp. 446–447).
Alexander noted that there is an objective measure of life that can be determined empirically for
any given region within a given wholeness (Alexander, 2001–2005b, p. 446).
2
It is also possible to
define various approximations to this empirical life, which can be attained as part of the functions of
the internal structure of (R) and (W) by calculating the life of (S i ). The most coherent subregions of
(R) are called centres. A region then will be considered more or less centred according to its level of
life. The most coherent subregions (S i ), which have a (c i ) close to 1, will then be called centres of the
region (R). Even among and within the centres there will be degrees of life, some that are more coherent than others, but all established through their life – a phenomenon of centredness in space.
In summary, Alexander thus defines wholeness as:
I define wholeness (W) as the system, which is created by region (R), together with the measure (c), and all those
subregions, which have measures more than some threshold and thus qualify as centres. For all practical purposes, the wholeness (W) is created by the interaction of the geometry of the region (R) and the rank order, which
is created on the centres of (R) by (c) - (Alexander, 2001–2005b, pp. 447).
2 Alexander, C. (2001-2005b). The Nature of Order - An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe,
Book Two: The Process of Creating Life. Berkeley, California, USA: The Center for Environmental Structure.
Appendix 1
Within the region (R), that contains (n) points; there are (2
n ) distinguishable subregions. A typical subregion
is then named (S i ). What follows is that we construct (W) by recognising that there are different relative degrees
of coherence that may be observed in the different subregions of (S i ). The regions of space have got coherence,
and each subregion includes different relative degrees of coherence. The levels are called life, and the structure
of the wholeness (W) relies on the distinctions of life that are explicit, and are used to erect structure. To make
the different degrees of life explicit, the introduction of measures of life (c) is introduced on the subregions of
(R). Each possible subregion is represented by (R), (S i ) with (i) ranges from (1) to (2
n
). The life of the i-th subregion (S i ) is then to be (c i ). Each (c i ) is a number between 0 and 1, and every subregion of (R) is to be given a
measure of life. The most coherent regions have a (c i ) that is close to 1 and the least coherent regions have a (c i )
that is close to 0 or close to 0
2 (Alexander, 2001–2005a, pp. 446–447).
Alexander noted that there is an objective measure of life that can be determined empirically for
any given region within a given wholeness (Alexander, 2001–2005b, p. 446).
2
It is also possible to
define various approximations to this empirical life, which can be attained as part of the functions of
the internal structure of (R) and (W) by calculating the life of (S i ). The most coherent subregions of
(R) are called centres. A region then will be considered more or less centred according to its level of
life. The most coherent subregions (S i ), which have a (c i ) close to 1, will then be called centres of the
region (R). Even among and within the centres there will be degrees of life, some that are more coherent than others, but all established through their life – a phenomenon of centredness in space.
In summary, Alexander thus defines wholeness as:
I define wholeness (W) as the system, which is created by region (R), together with the measure (c), and all those
subregions, which have measures more than some threshold and thus qualify as centres. For all practical purposes, the wholeness (W) is created by the interaction of the geometry of the region (R) and the rank order, which
is created on the centres of (R) by (c) - (Alexander, 2001–2005b, pp. 447).
2 Alexander, C. (2001-2005b). The Nature of Order - An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe,
Book Two: The Process of Creating Life. Berkeley, California, USA: The Center for Environmental Structure.
Appendix 1