holism
Philosophy. the theory that whole entities, as fundamental components of reality, have an existence other than as the mere sum of their parts.: Compare organicism (def. 1).
Also holiatry. Medicine/Medical. care of the entire patient in all aspects of well-being, including physical, psychological, and social.
Psychology. any psychological system postulating that the human mind must be studied as a unit rather than as a sum of its individual parts.
Anthropology. an emphasis on the dynamic interrelatedness of mind, body, the individual, society, and the physical environment as key to understanding cultural phenomena: In anthropology, holism seeks to understand humans as both biological and cultural beings, as living in both the past and the present.
Origin of holism
1- Sometimes who·lism .
Other words from holism
- ho·list, noun
Words Nearby holism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use holism in a sentence
Although holism sees human beings as integral organisms, holistic approaches are inclined to have this physical focus.
When You Don't Know Where to Turn | Steven J. Bartlett
British Dictionary definitions for holism
/ (ˈhəʊlɪzəm) /
any doctrine that a system may have properties over and above those of its parts and their organization
the treatment of any subject as a whole integrated system, esp, in medicine, the consideration of the complete person, physically and psychologically, in the treatment of a disease: See also alternative medicine
philosophy one of a number of methodological theses holding that the significance of the parts can only be understood in terms of their contribution to the significance of the whole and that the latter must therefore be epistemologically prior: Compare reductionism, atomism (def. 2)
Origin of holism
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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