Holism

Holism (from holos, a Greek word meaning whole) is the idea that the properties of a system cannot be determined or explained by the sum of its components alone. The word, along with the adjective holistic, was introduced by Jan Smuts in his 1926 book, Holism and Evolution, although sociologist Emile Durkheim used it earlier in a slightly different context. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Smuts defined holism as "The tendency in nature to form wholes that are greater than the sum of the parts through creative evolution."

Holism (or nonreductionism) is sometimes described as the opposite of reductionism, although proponents of scientific reductionism state that it is better regarded as the opposite of greedy reductionism. It may also be contrasted with atomism.

Holism in sociology
Emile Durkheim used the concept of holism to oppose the fact that society was a simple collection of individuals. Louis Dumont's 1984 essay, however, opposed "holism" to "individualism" as two different forms of societies. According to him, modern man lived in a individualist society, whereas ancient Greek society, for example, could be qualified as "holistic", because the individual found identity in the whole society. Thus, the individual was ready to sacrifice himself for his community, as his life without the polis had no sense whatsoever.

Responses to holism
Holism, especially in its metaphysical varieties, is controversial. Many scientists and philosophers regard some of these claims as unfalsifiable or less meaningful than holism's proponents do. Others see them as incorrect or as pseudoscience. Some forms, however, like epistemological and confirmation holism, are mainstream ideas in contemporary philosophy.

Similarly mainstream, complexity theory (sometimes referred to as "complexity science", such as at the Santa Fe Institute), comprises a holistic, 'top-down' approach towards understanding complex adaptive systems and as such its approach towards the growth of knowledge can be construed as being a polar opposite to reductionist science. A general theory of complexity has been realized, and numerous complexity institutes and departments have sprung up around the world.

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Holism in science
Holism in science, sometimes called the new science, is a scientific paradigm or approach to science in which the results of scientific research are viewed in a holistic manner, a departure from the reductive approach typical of scientific endeavor since the Enlightenment.

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Holistic healing
A holistic approach to healing recognizes that the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical elements of each person comprise a system, and attempts to treat the whole person, concentrating on the cause of the illness as well as symptoms. This approach often focuses on traditional (i.e. non-allopathic) medicinal arts. Examples of such holistic therapies include Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Indian Head Massage, Reiki, and Reflexology, to name just a few.

See also: Wellness, Alternative medicine