Holistic Science. The practice or theory of science on a holistic basis. Holistic science involves gathering the details created through reductionist means and from elsewhere to create a whole picture that more accurately represents the complex natural world that we live in. In this respect acknowledgement and understanding of the results of reductionist science are essential. Holistic science is about how these scientific conclusions are used.

The pages in this section attempt to illustrate some contemporary approaches to Holistic Science, create a theoretical basis and provide some illustrations.

A quote from Arthur Koestler:

'The process of evolution may be described as differentiation of structure and integration of function. The more differentiated and specialized the parts, the more elaborate co-ordination is needed to create a well-balanced whole. The ultimate criterion of the value of a functional whole is the degree of its internal harmony or integratedness, whether the functional whole is a biological species or a civilization or an individual. A whole is defined by the pattern of relations between its parts, not by the sum of its parts, and a civilization is not defined by the sum of its science, technology, art and social organization, but by the total pattern which they form, and the degree of harmonious integration in that pattern.

In other words:

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts

This is the meaning of holism as used in this web site.

Schumacher College, in Devon, England, runs a masterate in Holistic Science. The following is an excerpt from their site:

In partnership with the University of Plymouth, Schumacher College runs the first postgraduate programme in the world to offer an MSc in Holistic Science. This one-year programme explores new transdisciplinary methodologies that are gaining success in explaining natural systems. These recognise that complex systems have "emergent properties" that describe their characteristics as wholes and that these properties are conditioned, but not determined, by the system's constituent parts. The course offers methodologies that go beyond reductionism in understanding the dynamics of whole systems, which are explored at all levels from individual organisms to organisations, and from ecosystems to the Earth. Integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches which include, for example, chaos and complexity theories, computer modelling, intuitive perception and co-operative inquiry, students develop an holistic understanding of these systems and learn to work with them creatively.