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Holon (philosophy)

Holon (philosophy)
A holon (Greek: ὅλον, holon neuter form of ὅλος, holos "whole") is something that is simultaneously a whole and a part. The word was coined by Arthur Koestler in his book The Ghost in the Machine (1967, p. 48). Koestler was compelled by two observations in proposing the notion of the holon. Koestler also says holons are autonomous, self-reliant units that possess a degree of independence and handle contingencies without asking higher authorities for instructions. Finally, Koestler defines a holarchy as a hierarchy of self-regulating holons that function first as autonomous wholes in supra-ordination to their parts, secondly as dependent parts in sub-ordination to controls on higher levels, and thirdly in coordination with their local environment. A hierarchy of holons is called a holarchy. A significant feature of Koestler's concept of holarchy is that it is open ended both in the macrocosmic as well as in the microcosmic dimensions. Jump up ^ Simon, Herbert A. (1969).

Holism in science Holism in science, or Holistic science, is an approach to research that emphasizes the study of complex systems. This practice is in contrast to a purely analytic tradition (sometimes called reductionism) which aims to gain understanding of systems by dividing them into smaller composing elements and gaining understanding of the system through understanding their elemental properties. The holism-reductionism dichotomy is often evident in conflicting interpretations of experimental findings and in setting priorities for future research. Overview[edit] Holism in science is an approach to research that emphasizes the study of complex systems.[citation needed] Two central aspects are: The term holistic science has been used[who?] First, they are multidisciplinary. The Nature Institute, a research institute in holistic science, describes the necessity for Holism in science as follows Topics in Holism in science[edit] Alternative to reductionism[edit] Though considered by some[who?] Biology[edit]

Holarchy Different meanings[edit] David Spangler uses the term in a different meaning: "In a hierarchy, participants can be compared and evaluated on the basis of position, rank, relative power, seniority, and the like. But in a holarchy each person’s value comes from his or her individuality and uniqueness and the capacity to engage and interact with others to make the fruits of that uniqueness available."[2] In multiagent systems[edit] Multiagent systems are systems composed of autonomous software entities. Janus Multiagent Platform is a software platform able to execute holarchies of agents. See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Brief essay on holarchies

Holon (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon Homoarchy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Homoarchy is "the relation of elements to one another when they are rigidly ranked one way only, and thus possess no (or not more than very limited) potential for being unranked or ranked in another or a number of different ways at least without cardinal reshaping of the whole socio-political order."[1] Homoarchy and Heterarchy [edit] This notion is coupled with the one of heterarchy, defined by Crumley as "the relation of elements to one another when they are unranked or when they possess the potential for being ranked in a number of different ways". Homoarchy and Hierarchy Homoarchy must not be identified with hierarchy (as well as heterarchy must not be confused with egalitarianism in the proper meaning of the word). ^ (Bondarenko D.M. Bondarenko D.M., Grinin L.E., Korotayev A.V. 2002.

Holism and Evolution 1926 book by Jan Smuts Holism and Evolution is a 1926 book by South African statesman Jan Smuts, in which he coined the word "holism",[1][2] although Smuts' meaning differs from the modern concept of holism.[3] Smuts defined holism as the "fundamental factor operative towards the creation of wholes in the universe. The book was part of a broader trend of interest in holism in European and colonial academia during the early twentieth century.[1] Smuts based his philosophy of holism on the thoughts behind his earlier book, Walt Whitman: A Study in the Evolution of Personality, written during his time at Cambridge in the early 1890s.[5][6] The book describes a "process-orientated, hierarchical view of nature" and has been influential among criticisms of reductionism.[3] Smuts saw the League of Nations as a project that would unify white internationalists and pacify a forthcoming race war by establishing a mandate system, whereby whites would indirectly rule and segregate non-whites.[8]

Hierarchical closeness Hierarchical closeness (HC) is a structural centrality measure used in network theory or graph theory. It is extended from closeness centrality to rank how centrally located a node is in a directed network. While the original closeness centrality of a directed network considers the most important node to be that with the least total distance from all other nodes, hierarchical closeness evaluates the most important node as the one which reaches the most nodes by the shortest paths. The hierarchical closeness explicitly includes information about the range of other nodes that can be affected by the given node. where is the set of nodes and is the set of interactions, hierarchical closeness of a node called was proposed by Tran and Kwon[1] as follows: where: is the reachability of a node defined by a path from to , and is the normalized form of original closeness (Sabidussi, 1966).[2] It can use a variant definition of closeness[3] as follows: In the formula, represents the number of nodes in

Implicate and explicate order Ontological concepts for quantum theory Implicate order and explicate order are ontological concepts for quantum theory coined by theoretical physicist David Bohm during the early 1980s. They are used to describe two different frameworks for understanding the same phenomenon or aspect of reality. In particular, the concepts were developed in order to explain the bizarre behaviors of subatomic particles which quantum physics describes and predicts with elegant precision but struggles to explain. [1] In Bohm's Wholeness and the Implicate Order, he used these notions to describe how the appearance of such phenomena might appear differently, or might be characterized by, varying principal factors, depending on contexts such as scales.[2] The implicate (also referred to as the "enfolded") order is seen as a deeper and more fundamental order of reality. Overview[edit] The notion of implicate and explicate orders emphasizes the primacy of structure and process over individual objects.

Hydraulic power network The pumping station and hydraulic accumulator at Bristol Docks The idea of a public hydraulic power network was suggested by Joseph Bramah in a patent obtained in 1812. William Armstrong began installing systems in England from the 1840s, using low-pressure water, but a breakthrough occurred in 1850 with the introduction of the hydraulic accumulator, which allowed much higher pressures to be used. History[edit] Joseph Bramah, an inventor and locksmith living in London, registered a patent at the London Patent Office on 29 April 1812, which was principally about a provision of a public water supply network, but included a secondary concept for the provision of a high-pressure water main, which would enable workshops to operate machinery. In Newcastle upon Tyne, a solicitor called William Armstrong, who had been experimenting with water-powered machines, was working for a firm of solicitors who were appointed to act on behalf of the Whittle Dene Water Company. Kingston upon Hull [edit]

Gestalt psychology Gestalt psychology or gestaltism (German: Gestalt – "shape or form") is a theory of mind of the Berlin School. The central principle of gestalt psychology is that the mind forms a global whole with self-organizing tendencies. This principle maintains that the human mind considers objects in their entirety before, or in parallel with, perception of their individual parts; suggesting the whole is other than the sum of its parts. Gestalt psychology tries to understand the laws of our ability to acquire and maintain meaningful perceptions in an apparently chaotic world. In the domain of perception, Gestalt psychologists stipulate that perceptions are the products of complex interactions among various stimuli. Origins[edit] Both von Ehrenfels and Edmund Husserl seem to have been inspired by Mach's work Beiträge zur Analyse der Empfindungen (Contributions to the Analysis of Sensations, 1886), in formulating their very similar concepts of gestalt and figural moment, respectively. Reification

Heterarchy A heterarchy is a system of organization where the elements of the organization are unranked (non-hierarchical) or where they possess the potential to be ranked a number of different ways.[1] Definitions of the term vary among the disciplines: in social and information sciences, heterarchies are networks of elements in which each element shares the same "horizontal" position of power and authority, each playing a theoretically equal role. But in biological taxonomy, the requisite features of heterarchy involve, for example, a species sharing, with a species in a different family, a common ancestor which it does not share with members of its own family. This is theoretically possible under principles of "horizontal gene transfer." A heterarchy may be parallel to a hierarchy, subsumed to a hierarchy, or it may contain hierarchies; the two kinds of structure are not mutually exclusive. General principles[edit] Information studies[edit] Numerous observers[who?] David C. See also[edit]

Indeterminacy (philosophy) Indeterminacy, in philosophy, can refer both to common scientific and mathematical concepts of uncertainty and their implications and to another kind of indeterminacy deriving from the nature of definition or meaning. It is related to deconstructionism and to Nietzsche's criticism of the Kantian noumenon. Indeterminacy in philosophy[edit] Introduction[edit] The problem of indeterminacy arises when one observes the eventual circularity of virtually every possible definition. Philosophers and scientists generally try to eliminate indeterminate terms from their arguments, since any indeterminate thing is unquantifiable and untestable; similarly, any hypothesis which consists of a statement of the properties of something unquantifiable or indefinable cannot be falsified and thus cannot be said to be supported by evidence that does not falsify it. Kant and hazards of positing the "thing in itself"[edit] Nietzsche and the indeterminacy of the "thing in itself"[edit] See: Criticism[edit]

Hyperbolic geometric graph Mathematical formulation[edit] ) and an edge set E constructed by considering the nodes as points placed onto a 2-dimensional hyperbolic space of constant negative Gaussian curvature, and cut-off radius , i.e. the radius of the Poincaré disk which can be visualized using a hyperboloid model. Each point has hyperbolic polar coordinates with and The hyperbolic law of cosines allows to measure the distance between two points The angle In the simplest case, an edge is established iff (if and only if) two nodes are within a certain neighborhood radius , this corresponds to an influence threshold. Connectivity decay function[edit] In general, a link will be established with a probability depending on the distance . represents the probability of assigning an edge to a pair of nodes at distance . Generating hyperbolic geometric graphs[edit] Krioukov et al.[2] describe how to generate hyperbolic geometric graphs with uniformly random node distribution (as well as generalized versions) on a disk of radius in . . to

Integral theory (Ken Wilber) Framework for integrating diverse theories Origins and background[edit] Origins[edit] According to these early presentations, which rely strongly on perceived analogies between disparate theories (Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga, stage theories of psychological development, and Gebser's theory of collective mutations of consciousness), human development follows a set course, from pre-personal infant development, to personal adult development, culminating in trans-personal spiritual development. Main influences[edit] Sri Aurobindo[edit] Structural stage theory[edit] Jean Gebser - Mutations of consciousness[edit] Spiral Dynamics and collaboration with Don Beck[edit] [edit] Four quadrants[edit] The AQAL-framework has a four-quadrant grid with two axes, namely "interior-exterior," akin to the subjective-objective distinction, and "individual-collective." Each of the four approaches has a valid perspective to offer. Levels or stages[edit] Lines, streams, or intelligences[edit] States[edit] Types[edit]

Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network The Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN) is a non-governmental organization in Iceland creating stronger linkages through inclusive multi-stakeholder membership and network, for the facilitation of cooperation concerning the Arctic region.[1] Recent additional members include the Centre for Gender Equality; the Fisheries Science Centre at the University of Akureyri; the Husavik Academic Centre; Arctic Services; the Icelandic Met Office; the Marine Research Institute; the Icelandic Maritime Administration; the University Centre of the Westfjords; and the Greenland Centre, also in the Westfjords of Iceland. IACN's first director is Embla Eir Oddsdóttir.[3] The Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network is one of four founders of the Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce. The network is based in the research centre Borgir, in Akureyri, Iceland.[5]

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