| Meme Name: | Holon |
| Category: | science | |
| Related Concepts: |
systems theory
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| Related Links: |
Parable of the two Watchmakers
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| Core Concept |
| A basic unit of organization in biological and social systems.
Term created by Arthur Koestler, a useful metaphor for system analysis and modelling. Holons should exhibit autonomy, collaboration and stability. |
| autonomy |
| Holons have a tendency towards self-assertiveness and self-reliance.
Enables them to handle problems on their particular level of existence without asking higher level holons for assistance. |
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| collaboration |
| Holons have a tendency to interact with other holons |
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| stability |
| Holons are not transient
e.g. a trading community can be considered a holon, but a transaction isn't.
A brain cell is a holon, a thought isn't. |
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| holarchy |
| Holons exist in a holarchy - a hierarchy of organisation.
Advantage of organising holons: complex systems can be formed that are efficient in the use of resources, highly resilient to disturbances (both internal and external), and adaptable to changes in their environment. |
| control hierarchy |
| Holons can receive instruction from and, to a certain extent, be controlled by higher level holons.
This ensures holon stability whilst still assuring the effective operation of the larger whole. |
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| modelling |
| Holons can be identified by top-down analysis (reductionism) or bottom-up
analysis (emergence) |
| reductionism |
| The reductionist approach indentifies a common domain of control (an organism or company) and reduces the operational environment into a holarchy of more primitive components that satisfy the holonic criteria. |
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| emergence |
| Emergent modelling starts by identifying the most primitive components that satisfy the holonic criteria, and then determines how they interact to give rise to higer level holons. |
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