What is Holon

The term Holon is a combination of the word Holos-, which means whole and the suffix -on, which means particle or part. A Holon is an identifiable part of one or more systems and is, at the same time, a system formed by subordinate parts that integrates it as a whole.

(sensu Koestler 1967) ‘A holon … is something that is simultaneously a whole and a part. and a part’ (Koestler 1967, p. 48).

An autonomous self-reliant unit.

‘Holon’ is a term given by Arthur Koestler (1968) to study the structural characteristics of any organism. He has defined the Holons as a concept developed based on the notion of ‘sub-wholes’ as under: The organism is to be regarded as a multi-levelled hierarchy of semi-autonomous sub-wholes branching into sub-wholes of a lower level and so on. This sub-whole on any level is called a “Holon”. As per the concept of sub-wholes, a Holon is considered to be a whole for its level below, and a part for its level above. Subsequently, the basic part as well as the final resultant whole can as well be considered as Holons. This concept is further developed in detail for its specific characteristics of semi-autonomy, which determines the characteristics of the resultants composition (see Funch, 1995 ; van Leeuwen and Norrie, 1997 AU87: The in-text citation "Leeuwen and Norrie, 1997" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).

The term Holon is a combination of the word Holos-, which means whole and the suffix -on, which means particle or part. A Holon is an identifiable part of one or more systems and is, at the same time, a system formed by subordinate parts that integrates it as a whole.

Used in accordance to Koestler (1967) , referring to an entity that is simultaneously a whole and a part.

Any whole that is a part of another whole.

Adapted from Hebrew, implying a self-containing part that is part of a larger system.

Adapted from Hebrew implying a self-containing part which is part of a larger system.