Holism
Holism is a philosophical concept that posits that the individual parts of a system cannot be fully understood in isolation but rather need to be viewed in the context of the whole system they comprise. This perspective contrasts with atomism, which suggests that understanding a whole requires breaking it down into its constituent parts. Holism has applications across various fields, including science, medicine, psychology, and economics, emphasizing that systems often exhibit behaviors and properties that cannot be predicted by examining their parts alone. The term "holism" was popularized in the early 20th century by South African philosopher Jan Smuts, who described it as the natural tendency of evolution to create systems that are greater than the sum of their parts. In healthcare, holistic approaches advocate treating the entire person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just addressing specific symptoms, recognizing the interconnectedness of various aspects of health. This approach can include a blend of conventional and alternative therapies, reflecting a comprehensive view of well-being. Holistic perspectives can also be found in religious traditions and philosophical schools, such as Buddhism and Chinese philosophy, which emphasize unity and balance in understanding the universe.
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Holism
Holism is the philosophical belief that the parts of a system cannot be understood individually but only in relation to their contribution to the system as a whole. Holism can be applied to many different fields, including science, language, medicine, economics, and psychology. The idea is in direct opposition to the philosophy of atomism, which holds that the whole can only be understood by breaking it down into its individual parts. The concept of holism was first touched upon in the philosophy of ancient Greece and was later adapted by other philosophies. The term was introduced into the modern lexicon in the early twentieth century. The word holism is derived from the Greek holos, meaning "all," "entire," or "total."
Background
Some early Greek philosophers and scientists such as Leucippus and Democritus believed the universe was made up of invisible, indestructible particles they referred to as atoms, from the Greek word atomos, meaning "uncuttable." This philosophy, known as atomism, held that physical objects did not exist in their whole forms, but only the small atoms that composed them existed. This view was opposed by many, including fifth century BCE philosopher Parmenides who argued that "all is one," and that the universe in an unchangeable, complete whole unable to be divided. Famed Greek philosopher Aristotle summed up the concept in his fourth century BCE work Metaphysicsby writing that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
Medieval philosophers adapted Parmenides's belief in a whole, unchangeable universe to Christian beliefs and ascribed the unifying foundation of reality to God. Holistic thinking in a unifying whole can also be found in several religious traditions such as Buddhism and Daoism. Chinese philosophy adheres to the belief that the universe is a fundamental whole made up of two opposing forces known as yin and yang.
Overview
South African author and political figure Jan Smuts was the first to use the term holism in his 1926 book Holism and Evolution. He described the concept as the tendency of evolution to form whole systems in nature that are greater than the sum of its parts. Smuts's definition referred to the philosophical aspects of holism. The term was used in other fields as well; however, its underlying concept was adapted to fit each discipline.
In science, confirmation holism—also known as epistemological holism—is the belief that scientific theories cannot be understood unless the theory is tested in relation to the whole of the hypotheses. For example, theories cannot be tested in isolation but must be weighed against other theories and variables. Holistic theory in science adheres to the belief that the individual aspects of a system cannot be accurately predicted because natural behaviors often produce unexpected results. Only when observing the results of the entire system can a reasonable deduction be made.
In language science, semantic holism holds to the idea that individual parts of a language, such as words or sentences, can only be understood if they are viewed in the context of the entire language. Under this way of thinking, individual words do not achieve meaning on their own but only when they are placed in the context of the whole language.
A branch of psychology known as Gestalt psychology is considered to be a holistic approach to the discipline. Gestalt theory was developed in the early twentieth century and was based on the work of Czech psychologist Max Wertheimer. Gestalt, from the German word for "form" or "shape," examined psychology from the totality of the mind and behavior. A soap bubble is often used as an illustration of Gestalt psychology, as the bubble takes its shape not from a preset form but by the multiple interactions with the environment around it.
Some scientists believe the study of human cultures follows a holistic approach because it takes into account the effects of individual influences—such as religion, economy, and politics—on the whole of the community. Ecological holism views the total impact of multiple environmental factors on the whole well-being of Earth. Holistic concepts can also be applied to economics, architecture, education, and music.
The holistic approach is most often associated with medicine. It is viewed as a healing philosophy that treats not only the body but also the mind and spirit. It is believed that patients benefit most when all aspects of a person are treated, as problems with one aspect can affect the whole. Holistic medicine advocates a balanced treatment that can include both conventional medicine and alternative treatments. For example, doctors may see the symptoms of a migraine headache as resulting from stress, diet, or sleep patterns. By treating these other issues, holistic medicine hopes to remedy the underlying cause of the illness.
Holistic medicine follows the belief that all humans have natural healing powers. Tapping into these powers involves treating all aspects of a person by various methods. These can include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to aid in correcting physical ailments. They may also include psychological counseling, psychotherapy, and spiritual counseling. While the holistic approach incorporates traditional Western medicine such as pharmaceuticals and surgery, it also includes alternative treatments drawn from other cultures. Among those are acupuncture, a Chinese method that uses thin needles to pierce the skin to treat pain; homeopathy, a method that uses small doses of substances that would likely cause illness in healthy people to treat illness in sick people; and massage therapy, a method of applying coordinated pressure to the body's muscles and tissues to treat pain and relieve stress.
Bibliography
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