Origin of Holism
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ScribdTranslationsOrigin of Holism
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ScribdTranslationsOrigin of Holism.
The term Holism was coined by J C Smuts in Holism and Evolution and was the
Smuts' opinion is that Holism is a concept that represents all.
the complexities of the universe, in his opinion, holism also denoted a theory of
universe in the same vein as Materialism andSpiritism;for him the universe is neither
matter and spirit, but everything defined in Holism and Evolution. While offering
In these different definitions, Smuts clearly expressed that its primary use and
It was appropriate to denote the entirety of the sets that operate as real factors and
they give reality its dynamic evolutionary creative character.
Holism emphasizes the importance of the whole as something that propagates the sum of the
parts, emphasizing the importance of their interdependence. It should be mentioned that
holos (a Greek term meaning "whole" or "entire") outlines contexts and
complexities that come into play, as it is dynamic.
For holistic knowledge, the whole and each of the parts are connected to
constant interactions. That's why everyeventis related to others
events that produce new relationships and events in a process that involves
all.
Understanding of processes and situations must take place from one's own
holos, as its effectiveness brings forth a new synergy, new relationships are formed and
new events are generated. Therefore, the set is the definitive factor, although this
Recognition does not prevent the analysis of each particular case.
The holistic perspective involves a progression of paradigms to favor
thefigureof thephraseunderstood as an integration of paradigms. An attitude
syntagmatic implies the affinity of various perspectives, which can only be achieved
with holistic criteria.
Concept of holism.
Holism is a methodological position.and epistemologicalwhich postulates how the
systems (whether physical, biological, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.)
and their properties must be analyzed as a whole and not just through the parts
that compose them. But even when considered separately, analyze and observe the
system as an integrated and global whole that ultimately determines how it
the parts behave, while a mere analysis of them cannot explain why
completes the functioning of the whole. Holism considers that the "whole" is a system
more complex than a simple sum of its constituent elements or, in other
words, whose nature as an entity is not derivable from its elements
constituents. Holism advocates for synergy among the parts and not the
individuality of each one.
In the scientific field, reductionism is often considered the opposite of
holism. Scientific reductionism posits that a complex system can be
explained by a simple reduction of it to the parts that compose it. By
For example, biological processes can be reduced to chemistry, and the laws of chemistry.
are explained by physics. From a holistic perspective, on the contrary, the
systems function as sets and their operation cannot be fully
understood only when its component parts are taken into account.
In the social sciences, especially in sociology, the opposite of the holistic approach would be
methodological individualism. A holistic sociological approach considers and analyzes the
behavior of individuals as a consequence of the social matrix in which
they are found, while methodological individualism privileges in its analysis the
subjective interpretation of social facts.
Forms of Holism
There are different meanings of the term holism, depending on its application. No
however, all senses are based on the idea of wholeness as the appropriate form of
to know the reality.
Ontological holism considers that a real object or subject is composed of a
multiplicity of elements or aspects, which together form (and not by
separated) from the object/subject in question. Ontological holism refers to a
consideration of what reality is in itself, and opposes reductionism
ontological, which posits that a single characteristic or element can be defining
of a phenomenon.
Epistemological holism consists in considering that scientific knowledge must
tender to the construction of study objects that are not fragmented due to the
separate study of its characteristics. This type of holism is the theoretical foundation.
of stances such as transdisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity, which
they propose to overcome the boundaries between different sciences through study
coordinated by the scientists.
Sociological holism, on the other hand, is based on the application of this consideration.
about the totality within the field of sociology. This stance
it proposes that society is an entity that explains itself, and not based on the
individual actions and behaviors, considering that the latter are the result of
the general and structural processes of society. Holism opposes, as long as
approach to social knowledge, to methodological individualism.
Holism and systems
The holistic perspective gives great relevance to systems theory, which
consider that multiple aspects of reality can be apprehended through the
concept of system: a set of interrelated elements that are differentiated
from their environment and that obtain energy and information from it to sustain themselves in the
time. In this way, we can talk about physical systems, chemical systems,
biological systems, social systems, economic systems, technical systems,
linguistic systems, etc.
An example of the holistic perspective can be given in relation to the human organism.
A holistic explanation of it is one that states that the different systems that
they make up an organism, such as the digestive system, the system
respiratory, the circulatory system, the reproductive system, or the nervous system, only
they are explained from the organism as a whole and not vice versa. That is, the system
circulatory (lower instance) pumps blood to allow the organism
(superior instance) works, the digestive system obtains energy for the