Hi Doug:

yes, I enjoy this quote and I agree with it.
Here is my interpretation of this quote:

The function of a system is expressed in terms of multiple subfunctions.
Each subfunction definition uses its own view of the system. 
The collection of all those views is part of the design.
The function of the system (the multiple subfunction definitions)
is expressed more economically because of the views (i.e. the design).
The structure of the system is a tangled and redundant mess of the 
multiple subfunctions and is more complex than the function.

-- Karl

From dougo@ccs.neu.edu Wed Nov 18 01:22:14 1998
From: Doug Orleans <dougo@ccs.neu.edu>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 01:22:11 -0500 (EST)
To: lieber@ccs.neu.edu
Subject: a quote

Here's a quote that I thought you might enjoy:

    If you can't state the function [of a system] more economically
    than you can describe the structure, you don't have design.

It's from Stephen Pinker, in his _How The Mind Works_ (p. 173), in
reference to the design by natural selection of functional parts of
living beings (like the eye).  But I thought you might enjoy the quote
out of context as well.

--Doug