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Holism vs Reductionism

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Holism (System Thinking) VS. Reductionism
Marion Johnson
Wilmington University
November 5, 2013

Table of Content

Table of Contents 1
Introduction 2
Reductionism 3
Holism 4
System Thinking 5
Conclusion 6
References 7

Holism (System Thinking) VS. Reductionism
The objective of this research paper is to examine and understand the concepts of holism and reductionism and how they both relate to System Dynamics (SD). This is a part of System Thinking System Thinking (ST) that results a lack of commercial take up. The examination of Reductionism and Holism as applied through System Dynamics (SD) is applied in a broad range of area such as medicine, philosophy, physics, and other different areas of academics. Applications of Reductionism and Holistic principles were examined and defined in this paper. From the basis that SD as a Holistic/Reductionist methodology is deduced from a more differentiated general holistic nature of System Thinking (ST). Holism defined: All-encompassing view based on the knowledge the nature, functions, and properties of the components, their interactions, and their relationships to the whole (Business Dictionary.com).
Reductionism defined: Material world-view in which complex phenomenon is broken down into conceptual chunks small enough to be analyzed or measured. The basis of all analysis reductionism is useful in understanding inanimate things or simple systems (Business Dictionary.com). In the business and technology world these words are very important. Their methodology defines the function of a business.
Reductionism:
A problem is addressed but studying the properties of its parts. Therefore, a complex system is broken down into its component part and each part is studied individually by various approaches. It bills the descriptions of system

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