What is the fundamental philosophical position of organicism?

Organicism is a philosophical stance that views the universe and its components, including human societies, as analogous to living organisms. This perspective emphasizes that these elements are not static but are dynamic parts of a larger, ever-changing system.

How does organicism relate to holism?

Organicism is related to holism as it predates and informs it. While holism is applied more broadly to universal part-whole interconnections across various fields like anthropology and sociology, organicism is traditionally more focused on philosophical and biological contexts, though it shares the idea of interconnectedness.

In what way does organicism differ from reductionism?

Organicism is incongruous with reductionism because it considers causation to operate in both directions, from the parts to the whole (bottom-up) and from the whole to the parts (top-down). Reductionism, conversely, typically explains systems solely by the behavior of their smallest components.

What role has organicism played in the history of natural philosophy and scientific inquiry?

Organicism has been a fundamental tenet in natural philosophy and has remained a vital current in modern thought since the early 17th century. It has guided scientific inquiry alongside other perspectives like reductionism and mechanism.

Where is organicism generally considered to have originated?

While there is some debate among historians, scholars generally agree that Ancient Athens is the birthplace of organicism. The concept began to surface in Athenian writings during the 4th century BC.

Which ancient philosopher is noted for considering the universe as a living being?

Plato is recognized as one of the first philosophers to posit that the universe is an intelligent, living entity. He expressed this view in his dialogues, specifically the Philebus and the Timaeus.

How did Immanuel Kant contribute to the revival of organicistic thought?

In the late 18th century, Immanuel Kant championed a resurgence of organicistic ideas. He emphasized the interconnectedness of an organism and its parts, as well as the circular causality inherent in the complex relationships within a whole.

In which intellectual movement did organicism flourish in the late 18th and early 19th centuries?

Organicism experienced a period of significant growth during the German Romanticism intellectual movement. It was considered an important principle by philosophers like Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, particularly in the emerging field of biological studies.

What is the focus of organicism in contemporary biology?

In modern biology, organicism emphasizes the organization and self-organizing properties of organisms. It prioritizes understanding the whole system's structure and function over merely reducing it to its constituent biological components.

Who is credited as the first modern biologist to use the term 'organism' to articulate his philosophical stance?

John Scott Haldane is recognized as the first modern biologist to use the term 'organism' to expand his philosophical perspective, doing so in 1917. Other notable 20th-century figures like Theodor Adorno and Albert Dalcq followed his lead.

How has scientific interest in organicism been revived recently?

Recent scientific interest in organicism has been rekindled through the development of the extended evolutionary synthesis. This framework revisits and incorporates organism-centered perspectives into evolutionary biology.

What doctrines does organicism reject in philosophy?

In philosophy, organicism explicitly rejects mechanism and reductionism. These doctrines assert that the behavior of larger systems can be fully explained by the properties of their smallest constituent parts.

Does organicism align with vitalism?

No, organicism is distinct from and, in fact, rejects vitalism. Vitalism posits a unique vital force separate from physical forces to explain living things, whereas organicism focuses on the inherent organization and dynamic interactions within a system.

According to Fritjof Capra, what shared goal motivated both organicism and vitalism?

Fritjof Capra suggests that both organicism and vitalism emerged from a shared desire to move away from the Cartesian view of reality. This mechanistic paradigm was seen as potentially destructive across various domains, from science to politics.

What did Yves Delage describe as the essence of organicism in biology?

The French zoologist Yves Delage described organicism as the view that life, bodily form, and the characteristics of an organism's parts result from the reciprocal interactions and interplay of all its elements. He saw this as a dynamic process, not a pre-established harmony, leading to the overall appearance of consensus.

How do Scott F. Gilbert and Sahotra Sarkar differentiate organicism from holism?

Scott F. Gilbert and Sahotra Sarkar distinguish organicism from holism to avoid what they perceive as vitalistic or spiritualistic connotations associated with holism. This distinction helps maintain a focus on the inherent organizational principles without invoking non-material forces.

What did Val Dusek propose regarding the spectrum of holism and organicism?

Val Dusek proposed that holism exists on a continuum of degrees of top-down control. He placed monism at one end, where the universe is the sole complete object, and organicism at another, which allows for more independence of parts while still acknowledging the whole's influence.

How does William Wimsatt differentiate reductionism from holism?

William Wimsatt suggested that the number of terms involved in explanatory relations distinguishes reductionism from holism. Reductionistic explanations typically rely on two or three terms, while holistic explanations might consider a much larger number of interconnected terms.

In what way has organicism been implemented in theology?

Organicism has been implemented in theology as a worldview motif, particularly in 19th-century dogmatic theology. It has been used to describe reality as a unity of being and becoming, with diversity rooted in a unifying principle, as seen in the work of theologians like Herman Bavinck.

What definition of theological organicism did Hans Lassen Martensen provide?

Hans Lassen Martensen defined theological organicism by contrasting living, organic objects with lifeless, mechanical ones. He stated that while mechanical things require all parts to exist, living, organic objects, including those related to eternal life, can be understood as subject to the laws of life, potentially existing as a whole even without all parts being fully manifest.

What common conceptual thread is found in the theological implementations of organicism by Bavinck, Gisle, and Martensen?

Although applied differently by each theologian, organicism served as a conceptual common denominator. It allowed for flexibility between concepts, such as God and the world for Bavinck, faith and truth for Gisle, and life and the gospel for Martensen.

How has organicism been applied in sociology?

In sociology, organicism has been used by late 19th-century social scientists to characterize human societies as analogous to living organisms. Individual humans were seen as comparable to the cells within this larger societal organism.

Which sociologists are noted for their organicist perspectives?

Sociologists such as Alfred Espinas, Paul von Lilienfeld, Jacques Novicow, Albert Schäffle, Herbert Spencer, and René Worms are noted for articulating organicist views of society.

Which prominent conservative political thinkers have developed an organic view of society?

Conservative political thinkers who have developed an organic view of society include Edmund Burke, G.W.F. Hegel, Adam Müller, and Julius Evola. The concept is also associated with the 'Tory Radicalism' of figures like Thomas Carlyle and John Ruskin.

How did Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan relate to organicism?

Thomas Hobbes' concept of the state as a 'secular God' or 'artificial man' in Leviathan can be seen as a form of organicism. However, he viewed the state more as a constructed machine than a literal organism, aligning with his mechanical materialism and individualism.

What is the relationship between organicism and the far-right worldview, according to Camus and Lebourg?

According to scholars Jean-Yves Camus and Nicolas Lebourg, organicism is central to the worldview of the historical far-right. They note that it involves viewing society as a living entity and emphasizing the valorization of the 'we' (autophilia) over universalism, often leading to the absolutization of differences and anxieties about homogeneity.

How did Nazi ideology incorporate organicist ideas?

Nazi ideology, influenced by thinkers like Johann Gottlieb Fichte, incorporated organicist concepts by viewing the German people (Volk) as a mystical, pseudobiological whole and the state as an organism. Adolf Hitler contrasted this living organism with the 'dead mechanism' of the democratic state, emphasizing that the individual served the collective 'idea'.

What was the focus of 'organismic biology' before the invention of the microscope?

Before the invention of the microscope in the 17th century, 'organismic biology' focused on studying individual organisms as whole entities. This approach predated the detailed observation of cellular structures and remained an important component of biological sciences.

What does organicism in biology consider to be the cause of life's observable structures and properties?

In biology, organicism posits that the observable structures of life, including form and the characteristics of its parts, are the result of the reciprocal interactions and interplay among all its components.

Who were some key 20th-century biologists associated with organicism?

Prominent 20th-century biologists associated with organicism include Ross Granville Harrison, Paul Weiss, Joseph Needham, John Scott Haldane, William Emerson Ritter, Edward Stuart Russell, Joseph Henry Woodger, Ludwig von Bertalanffy, and Ralph Stayner Lillie. Donna Haraway discussed some of these figures in her work.

What contribution did Robert Rosen make to organicist thought in biology?

Robert Rosen, the founder of relational biology, provided a comprehensive mathematical and category-theoretic framework for understanding irreducible causal relations, which he believed were fundamental to life, aligning with organicist principles.

What was the purpose of the Theoretical Biology Club formed in the early 1930s?

The Theoretical Biology Club, formed by Joseph Henry Woodger, Joseph Needham, and others, aimed to promote the organicist approach to biology. It actively opposed mechanistic philosophy, reductionism, and the gene-centric view of evolution.

Which philosopher's ideas significantly influenced the members of the Theoretical Biology Club?

Many members of the Theoretical Biology Club were influenced by the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, whose work provided a foundation for their organicist approach to biology.

Why did the Theoretical Biology Club eventually disband?

The Theoretical Biology Club disbanded because the Rockefeller Foundation withdrew its funding for their investigations, hindering their continued research and activities.

How is 'organism' or 'organismic' used in the field of ecology?

In ecology, 'organism' or 'organismic' terms are used to describe theories that conceptualize populations, particularly ecological communities or ecosystems, using the model of an individual organism. This approach views these ecological units as integrated, self-regulating wholes.

How did early iterations of Gaia theory relate to organicism?

Early versions of Gaia theory explicitly adopted an organicist approach by conceptualizing the entire Earth as a single, integrated, self-regulating living being. This contrasted with viewing the Earth merely as a collection of separate, mechanical components.

What is the core idea of organicism as presented in the introduction?

The core idea of organicism is that the universe and its parts, including societies, should be viewed as living and naturally ordered, much like a living organism. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of these components within a comprehensive system.

What is the significance of 'both bottom-up and top-down causation' in organicism?

The consideration of 'both bottom-up and top-down causation' is crucial to organicism because it acknowledges that influence flows not only from the parts to the whole but also from the whole system back to its individual parts. This contrasts with reductionism, which primarily focuses on bottom-up causation.

What philosophical stance did the Theoretical Biology Club oppose?

The Theoretical Biology Club opposed mechanistic philosophy, reductionism, and the gene-centric view of evolution. They advocated for an organicist approach that emphasized the holistic nature of biological systems.

What was the primary argument of Thomas Hobbes regarding the state in his work Leviathan?

Thomas Hobbes argued in Leviathan that the state functions like a secular God, with individual people forming its constituent parts. He conceptualized the state as a larger organism, though he also described it as a constructed machine.

What specific aspect of German Romanticism was linked to organicism in biology?

German Romanticism's influence on biology, particularly concerning organicism, was linked to its emphasis on the interconnectedness and dynamic nature of living systems, as explored by thinkers like Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling.

What distinction did Scott F. Gilbert and Sahotra Sarkar make between organicism and holism?

Gilbert and Sarkar distinguished organicism from holism to avoid potential vitalistic or spiritualistic connotations they associated with holism, thereby clarifying organicism's focus on inherent organizational principles.

What did the Nazi Party, influenced by Fichte, consider the state to be?

Influenced by Johann Gottlieb Fichte, the Nazi Party viewed the state as a living organism. Adolf Hitler himself used this imagery to contrast the state's purpose with that of a 'dead mechanism,' stating the state's sole aim should be to serve a higher idea.

What is the meaning of 'hylozoists' as referred to in relation to early Ionian philosophers?

The term 'hylozoists,' used by later philosophers like Aristotle to describe early Ionian thinkers, means 'those who thought that matter was alive.' This reflects an early form of organicist or vitalist thinking where life was seen as inherent in all matter.

What did Jan Smuts coin in 1926 regarding evolutionary processes?

In 1926, Jan Smuts coined the term 'holism' to describe a perceived tendency in evolutionary processes towards the formation of wholes. He believed these wholes possessed a significance that individual parts lacked, and he used this concept to justify policies like Apartheid in South Africa.

What specific concept did the Theoretical Biology Club promote in opposition to mechanistic views?

The Theoretical Biology Club promoted the organicist approach to biology, which stood in opposition to mechanistic philosophy and reductionism. They emphasized the holistic and integrated nature of living systems.

What did the German nationalist philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte contribute to Nazi ideology regarding the 'Volk'?

Johann Gottlieb Fichte's ideas significantly influenced Nazi ideology by promoting the concept of the 'Volk' (people) as an organic unity. This Völkisch nationalism formed part of the philosophical and ideological foundation for Nazi policies.

What is the core idea of organicism in the context of ecology?

In ecology, organicism conceptualizes ecological communities or ecosystems as analogous to individual organisms. This perspective views these systems as integrated and self-regulating wholes.

What did the German conservative political thinkers Burke, Hegel, and Müller have in common regarding society?

Edmund Burke, G.W.F. Hegel, and Adam Müller are noted conservative political thinkers who developed an organic view of society. They conceptualized society not as a collection of individuals but as a living, interconnected entity.

What is the significance of 'reciprocal play' in the biological definition of organicism?

The 'reciprocal play' of all components within an organism is central to the biological definition of organicism. It signifies that the organism's form, properties, and characteristics arise from the dynamic, mutual interactions among its constituent parts, such as cells, tissues, and organs.

What did the 'Tory Radicalism' movement, associated with organicism, emphasize?

The 'Tory Radicalism' movement, associated with figures like Thomas Carlyle and John Ruskin, embraced organicist ideas. This perspective often emphasized tradition, social hierarchy, and the interconnectedness of society as a living entity, contrasting with more individualistic or mechanistic views.

Organicism Wiki: The Organic Paradigm: Understanding Society and Existence as a Living System

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The Concept of Organicism

Defining Organicism

Organicism is a philosophical position asserting that the universe and its constituent parts, including human societies, should be understood as living entities, analogous to biological organisms.^[1]^[2] Central to this view is the idea that the elements within such systems are not static entities but dynamic components engaged in a continuous interplay, contributing to a constantly evolving whole.^[3]

Distinguishing from Related Concepts

While related to holism, organicism predates it and is more specific in its analogy to living organisms. It fundamentally rejects reductionism, which explains systems solely by their smallest parts. Instead, organicism emphasizes both bottom-up and top-down causality, recognizing the influence of the whole on its parts and vice versa.^[5] It also diverges from vitalism by not positing a distinct vital force, focusing instead on the inherent organizational principles of living systems.^[13]

Foundational Tenet

Regarded as a cornerstone of natural philosophy, organicism has persisted as a significant current in intellectual thought since the early 17th century, coexisting with reductionist and mechanistic perspectives.^[6]^[7] Its emphasis on interconnectedness and dynamic processes continues to inform various fields of inquiry.

Historical Roots

Ancient Origins

Scholars generally trace the origins of organicism to Ancient Athens. Plato, in his dialogues Philebus and Timaeus, presented the universe as an intelligent, living entity, an early articulation of organicist thought.^[1] This perspective viewed the cosmos not as a mere collection of inert objects but as a unified, animated whole.

Kantian Revival and Romanticism

Immanuel Kant significantly contributed to a resurgence of organicist ideas in the late 18th century. He highlighted the intrinsic interconnectedness of an organism's parts and the concept of circular causality within these systems.^[2] During the German Romanticism movement, thinkers like Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling integrated organicist principles into the nascent field of biology, viewing life as a fundamental organizing force.^[8]

Organicism in Philosophical Discourse

Rejection of Mechanism

Philosophically, organicism stands in opposition to mechanism and reductionism. It posits that systems, particularly living ones, possess emergent properties and organizational principles that cannot be fully explained by analyzing their constituent parts in isolation.^[5] This perspective emphasizes the holistic nature of reality, where the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Beyond Vitalism

While sharing a rejection of purely mechanistic explanations with vitalism, organicism distinguishes itself by not invoking a separate, non-physical vital force. Instead, it focuses on the inherent organizational complexity and dynamic interactions within systems as the basis for life and behavior.^[13]

Causality and Relations

Organicism acknowledges both bottom-up and top-down causation, where the overall system can influence the behavior of its parts. This contrasts with strict reductionism, which primarily focuses on bottom-up explanations. The emphasis on relations between parts, rather than just the parts themselves, is a key feature, distinguishing it from earlier substance-based philosophies.^[16]

Organicism in the Life Sciences

Modern Biological Perspectives

In contemporary biology, organicism highlights the importance of self-organizing properties and the intricate organization of organisms, moving beyond a purely reductionist focus on molecular components.^[9] This perspective has influenced movements like the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, which seeks a more comprehensive understanding of evolutionary processes.^[11]^[12]

The Theoretical Biology Club

In the 1930s, figures like Joseph Henry Woodger and Joseph Needham formed the Theoretical Biology Club. This group advocated for an organismic approach, challenging mechanistic philosophy, reductionism, and gene-centric views of evolution, often drawing inspiration from Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy.^[36]^[37]

Relational Biology

Robert Rosen, a key proponent of relational biology, provided a formal, mathematical framework for understanding life based on irreducible causal relations, further developing the organicist perspective on biological systems.^[35]

Organicism in Theological Thought

Unity and Diversity

In the 19th century, organicism influenced dogmatic theology, notably in the work of Herman Bavinck. He conceptualized reality as possessing an organic unity of diversity, rooted in the Trinity, reflecting a worldview where God and the world are intrinsically connected.^[17]

Faith and Church

Norwegian theologian Gisle Johnson applied organicist language to faith and the church, viewing their development as an "organic development," akin to a growing plant. He saw systematic theology itself as an organism, requiring explication and reproduction of faith-consciousness.^[18]

Martensen's Definition

Hans Lassen Martensen defined theological organicism by contrasting living objects with lifeless, mechanical ones. He argued that in organic systems, the whole can exist meaningfully even without all parts being perfectly understood, a characteristic applicable to eternal life and the gospel.^[19]

Organicism in Society and Politics

Societal Analogy

In sociology and political thought, organicism views human society as analogous to a biological organism, with individuals functioning like cells. This perspective was articulated by thinkers such as Alfred Espinas, Paul von Lilienfeld, Albert Schäffle, and Herbert Spencer.^[20]

Conservative Thought

Prominent conservative thinkers like Edmund Burke, G.W.F. Hegel, and Adam Müller embraced an organic view of society. This tradition also includes the "Tory Radicalism" of Carlyle, Ruskin, and Coleridge, emphasizing tradition, hierarchy, and the inherent structure of social life.^[21]^[22]^[23]

Far-Right Ideologies

Organicism has been identified as a core element of far-right political thought. Philosophers like Johann Gottlieb Fichte influenced Nazi ideology, which viewed the state as a living organism and promoted a Völkisch nationalism based on organic racial unity.^[27]^[29]^[32] This perspective often entails a rejection of universalism in favor of group identity and homogeneity.

Organicism in Ecology

Ecosystems as Organisms

In ecology, "organicism" or "organismic" perspectives conceptualize populations and ecological communities as integrated wholes, akin to individual organisms.^[42]^[43] This view sometimes overlaps with holism, emphasizing the systemic properties of ecological interactions.

Gaia Theory

Early iterations of Gaia theory adopted an explicitly organicist stance, conceptualizing the Earth as a single, self-regulating living system rather than merely a collection of mechanical components.^[45] This perspective highlights the planet's complex feedback loops and emergent properties.

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References

Gilbert, S. F., and S. Sarkar. 2000. "Embracing Complexity: Organicism for the 21st Century." Develop Dynam 219: 1â9.

Charles Wolfe. HOLISM, ORGANICISM AND THE RISK OF BIOCHAUVINISM. Verifiche. Rivista di scienze umana, 2014

Fritjof Capra. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. Anchor Books Doubleday, 1996.

What The Bleep Do We Know â Down The Rabbit Hole. Samuel Goldwyn Films. Roadside attractions. Documentary film, Drama. 3 February 2006.

Daniela Barberis, "In search of an object: organicist sociology and the reality of society in fin-de-siÃ¨cle France", History of the Human Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2003. Page 54.

Rosen, R. 1991. "Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life". Columbia University Press, New York.

Reconciling science and religion: the debate in early-twentieth-century Britain, 2001, Peter J. Bowler

A history of molecular biology, Michel Morange, Matthew Cobb, 2000, p. 91

Greater than the parts: holism in biomedicine, 1920â1950, Christopher Lawrence, George Weisz, Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 12

Cf. Trepl, Ludwig & Voigt, Annette 2011: The classical holism-reductionism debate in ecology. In: Schwarz, Astrid/ Jax, Kurt (Hg.): Ecology Revisited. Reflecting on Concepts, Advancing Science. Dordrecht, Springer: 45â83.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Organicism Wikipedia page

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This is not a substitute for scholarly research or expert consultation. The interpretations and connections presented are based on the AI's analysis of the provided text. Readers are encouraged to consult primary sources and engage in critical evaluation of the concepts discussed. Philosophical and political ideas, particularly those with historical and ideological dimensions, require nuanced understanding that extends beyond this summary.

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The Organic Paradigm

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

The Concept of Organicism 🌳

🔗 Defining Organicism

⚖️ Distinguishing from Related Concepts

💡 Foundational Tenet

Historical Roots 🏛️

🇬🇷 Ancient Origins

🇩🇪 Kantian Revival and Romanticism

Organicism in Philosophical Discourse 🦉

🚫 Rejection of Mechanism

✨ Beyond Vitalism

🔄 Causality and Relations

Organicism in the Life Sciences 🔬

🌱 Modern Biological Perspectives

🤝 The Theoretical Biology Club

🌐 Relational Biology

Organicism in Theological Thought 🙏

🕊️ Unity and Diversity

🌿 Faith and Church

📜 Martensen's Definition

Organicism in Society and Politics 👥

🌍 Societal Analogy

🏛️ Conservative Thought

🚩 Far-Right Ideologies

Organicism in Ecology 🌿

🌳 Ecosystems as Organisms

🌍 Gaia Theory

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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📜 Important Considerations

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

The Concept of Organicism

Defining Organicism

Distinguishing from Related Concepts

Foundational Tenet

Historical Roots

Ancient Origins

Kantian Revival and Romanticism

Organicism in Philosophical Discourse

Rejection of Mechanism

Beyond Vitalism

Causality and Relations

Organicism in the Life Sciences

Modern Biological Perspectives

The Theoretical Biology Club

Relational Biology

Organicism in Theological Thought

Unity and Diversity

Faith and Church

Martensen's Definition

Organicism in Society and Politics

Societal Analogy

Conservative Thought

Far-Right Ideologies

Organicism in Ecology

Ecosystems as Organisms

Gaia Theory

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Academic Disclaimer

Important Considerations