Gotta go Heidegger here. It's kinda simultaneous or superimposed rather. After all, who's asking the question? Who is answering? You're here asking. I'm here answering. We're a part of the very system we're describing. The map and the territory are one after all 'cause we're a part of it, inescapably. In short, I don't think causality is a factor. There's no 1, then 2. or 2 then 1. Sort of a [1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_thinking approach but somewhat more than that. References Visible links 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_thinking