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How parts make up wholes
Scott D Findlay1, Paul Thagard
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University London, ON, Canada.
Frontiers in Physiology
|December 11, 2012
Summary
We introduce a new schema to understand how parts form wholes across all organization levels, from atoms to societies. This framework unifies the study of structure, function, and dynamics in science.
Area of Science:
- Interdisciplinary, spanning physics, biology, cognitive, and social sciences.
Background:
- Understanding how components form complex systems is a fundamental scientific challenge.
- Existing frameworks often lack a unified approach across diverse organizational scales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel schema for characterizing the constitution of wholes from parts.
- To provide a unified understanding of organization across various scientific domains.
Main Methods:
- Development of a schema based on four key elements: tags, organizers, attachers, and communicators.
- Application of the schema to analyze structures and processes at multiple levels of organization.
Main Results:
- The proposed schema offers a unified perspective on the structure, function, and dynamics of organization.
- Demonstrated applicability across atomic, biological, and social levels.
Conclusions:
- The schema facilitates a deeper understanding of constitution and emergence.
- Provides insights into the relationship between individuals and the social groups they form.
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