Holism

Holism is a concept in philosophy that systems (physical, biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.) and their properties should be viewed as wholes, not just as a collection of parts.

History and Varieties

The term Holism was coined by Jan Smuts in his 1926 book, Holism and Evolution. It is derived from the Greek word "holos" which means "whole" or "all". The concept has since been applied in a wide variety of fields including psychology, medicine, and ecology.

In medicine, Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system in the body cannot be determined or explained by the sum of its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines how the parts behave.

A similar concept exists in psychology, where Holism can refer to an approach that focuses on the whole person, including their mental and emotional health, rather than just their physical health.

Holism in Medicine

In the field of medicine, Holism has been used to emphasize the treatment of the whole person, including mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease. This approach is often used in alternative medicine and has been increasingly incorporated into mainstream medical practice.

Holism in Psychology

In psychology, Holism is an approach to understanding the human mind and behavior that focuses on looking at things as a whole. It is often contrasted with reductionism, which tries to explain complex phenomena in terms of simpler ones.

See Also

• Systems theory
• Holistic health
• Holistic education
• Holistic management

References

Holism Resources
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