Holarchy

Holarchy  (Word)
Founder(s)	Arthur Koestler

The term Holon (from Greek. ὅλος, hólos andνν, on "being part of a whole") was coined by Arthur Koestler and means a whole that is part of another whole. It is also paraphrased as "whole/part".

The theory of holons is an independent general systems theory. So, for example, a cell is in itself a whole, but part of a broader whole, an organ, which, in turn, is part of the body. A hierarchy of holons thus created is called a holarchy according to Koestler.

“It is true that, in the organism (and in all biology), diverse processes are coordinated toward a common end. And it is also true that this is understandable only because a principle of interpenetration is universal in biology. The general rule is that we always find ourselves looking at wholes embedded within still larger wholes, and contexts overlapping other contexts. This is clearly evident when we consider the integrated unity of a physical body with all its cells, tissues, and organs. It may take some effort, but we have to learn to think in terms of this embeddedness of wholes and overlapping of contexts.”
Steve Talbott (2021) 

Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.