Consciousness of Death and Transitoriness
Original term: Consciousness of Death and Transitoriness | Chapter/location: exact location needs checking | Chapter start page in the English edition’s table of contents: unknown
Definition and core idea
The living quality of an environment can be tied to accepting the passage of time, wear and the traces of use; but not every deterioration is beautiful or desirable.
Explanation and elaboration
Wood fades, stone is polished, and materials take on the marks of use. Hiding every trace of time may destroy part of a place’s character. Even so, meaningful wear has to be distinguished from dangerous deterioration, and safety, hygiene and accessibility must be kept.
Notes and limits of interpretation
Caution in attribution
The exact location of this discussion in the edition used is not available; this note currently rests on the underlying summary and has no definitive page reference.
Relations to other concepts
Review questions
- What problem does this concept clarify?
- Which part is Alexander’s explicit claim and which part is analytical interpretation?
- What observations or evidence are needed to assess it in a real environment?