I found the article fascinating because you (tangentially) cover a passion of mine—existential philosophy.

Your discussion of the anxiety attached with the concepts of infinite regression and escalation is basically a physical exploration of the metaphysical concept of an “existential crisis”.

An existential crisis, in other words, is a self-aware “system” attempting to identify which part of the existential spectrum it uniquely occupies… but failing and getting lost in either infinite regression or escalation.

We identify systems as occupying a unique part of the existential spectrum based on where one system (or series of systems) ends and where another begins—i.e. part of knowing that a rock is a rock comes from knowing that it is not the same as sand (or some other thing).

This logic (in small doses) is also essential when solving complex problems of any kind—and you’re using it in the context of solving design problems! :)

It’s a reminder for designers to neither live in blissful ignorance nor suffer a “design existential crisis”—to be aware of the complexity of systems but not get lost in them.