… Is a philosophical idea of something simultaneously existing as a whole and a part of a larger whole alike. The name itself, as most newly coined names to explain phenomena in philosophy do, derives from the Greek word “holos” meaning “whole”

The term was first proposed by a Hungarian Arthur Koestler in his 1967 book Ghost In the Machine, taking a philosophical look at psychology and development of systems. He touched on atomic and molecular, living organisms as well as societal and cultural systems, going into macro and micro of all phenomena. He believed that wholes and parts don’t actually exist anywhere as absolutes. Sub-wholes are whole in themselves, acting as independent self-sufficient complete systems superior to smaller self-sufficient parts of themselves but dependent on larger holons or holons they themselves are a part of. Even as subparts of larger holons or groups they retain something of an autonomy to  operate by without “asking permission” of the larger whole. Yet if a subholon would go rogue or break down, the upper levels would feel the impact in this hybrid co/non dependency. So they are stable in themselves but are subject to regulation by one or more larger upper holons and both, sub and supra holons, are affected by their environment.

An organism is a great example to understand holons. On the smallest level we have an atom, whole in itself and capable of standing alone and functioning, Atoms group into molecules, which then self-organize into simple organisms, which become more complex the higher you go… The crucial thing is that each new ladder of holons fully includes it’s sub-holons. So a molecule engulfs atoms and organisms engulf molecules,  although each subholon is separate and can operate in their own right. The higher levels need the lower levels as necessary constituents while the lower levels need the higher levels to organize their work as separate entities.

A holon evolves and self organizes, it is opened to interact with its surroundings and adapt and change in search of equilibrium and it exchanges matter and energy, as well as dealing in organizing chaos by information. It doesn’t matter what scale you chose to analyze as a holon is phenomena, a  mental representation on how systems work in general, so you’re free to think about the subatomic structure or the entire universe and whatever may lay outside it, be it that you subscribe to the multiverse paradigm. It can be used to analyze our own development, our societies, cultures, thought, art, religion… We too are holons, containing genetic material of all that came before us, now existing as an individual, that is nested within groups to properly function, smaller groups such as romantic relationships, friendships, families, communities, cities, countries and the whole world population.

Information flows both ways and a holon can malfunction if this nestled system breaks down for any reason, be it that the higher up holons don’t recognize lower ones as their parts or that the lower parts refuse to recognize the organizing authority of the superior one(s). This is where systems encounter problems that may lead to dissipation or death of an organism. A break in holon hierarchy rules in a body would for example be cancer, where cells and their multiplication is no longer under control by which a tissue or an organ world harmoniously be included into a larger organism to which it contributes.  On the other front, cultural wars start due to the failure to recognize this interdependence, codependence and autonomy trajectory of moving individual parts acting in unison and towards the same goal. A computer program will crash if some of its components are faulty, affecting all of the larger processes up the chain that they are a part of…

Holon is basically a philosophical concept describing the well-known truism that all is connected and that all has i’s role to play in a larger picture. W and our systems are not tabula rasa just plumped here in chaos, but there are systems at work here on all levels of existence, and they evolve and change. A theory of everything will need to take developmental stages and open ended holons (on micro and macro scale) into consideration to truly encompass everything in the elegance it strives to achieve. The failure to recognize this true nature of things is the beginning of a breakdown and pathologies, individually or collectively as a society.