Holarchy
Encyclopedia
A holarchy, in the terminology of Arthur Koestler
, is a connection between holon
s – where a holon is both a part and a whole. The term was coined in Koestler's 1967 book The Ghost in the Machine
. The term, spelled holoarchy, is also used extensively by American philosopher and writer Ken Wilber
.
The universe as a whole is an example of a holarchical system
, in which every holarchy is part of a larger holarchy.
Holarchy is commonly referred as a form of hierarchy
however, hierarchy, by its' definition, has both an absolute top and bottom. But this is not logically possible in a Holon as it is both a whole and a part. Like a Fractal
, the top can be a bottom, and a bottom can be a top.
uses the term in a different meaning: "In a hierarchy
, participants can be compared and evaluated on the basis of position, rank, relative power, seniority and the like. But in a holarchy each person’s value comes from his or her individuality and uniqueness and the capacity to engage and interact with others to make the fruits of that uniqueness available."
Janus Multiagent Platform
is a software platform able to execute holarchy of agents.
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
, is a connection between holon
Holon (philosophy)
A holon is something that is simultaneously a whole and a part. The word was coined by Arthur Koestler in his book The Ghost in the Machine . Koestler was compelled by two observations in proposing the notion of the holon...
s – where a holon is both a part and a whole. The term was coined in Koestler's 1967 book The Ghost in the Machine
The Ghost in the Machine
The Ghost in the Machine is Arthur Koestler's, 1967, non-fiction polemic against any such ghost. The phrase of the title was coined by Gilbert Ryle, with whom he shares the concept that the mind of a person is not an independent entity, temporarily inhabiting and governing the body...
. The term, spelled holoarchy, is also used extensively by American philosopher and writer Ken Wilber
Ken Wilber
Kenneth Earl Wilber II is an American author who has written about mysticism, philosophy, ecology, and developmental psychology. His work formulates what he calls Integral Theory. In 1998, he founded the Integral Institute, for teaching and applications of Integral theory.-Biography:Ken Wilber was...
.
The universe as a whole is an example of a holarchical system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
, in which every holarchy is part of a larger holarchy.
Holarchy is commonly referred as a form of hierarchy
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
however, hierarchy, by its' definition, has both an absolute top and bottom. But this is not logically possible in a Holon as it is both a whole and a part. Like a Fractal
Fractal
A fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...
, the top can be a bottom, and a bottom can be a top.
Different meanings
David SpanglerDavid Spangler
David Spangler is an American spiritual philosopher and self-described "practical mystic". He helped transform the Findhorn Foundation in northern Scotland into a centre of residential spiritual education, and is a friend of William Irwin Thompson...
uses the term in a different meaning: "In a hierarchy
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
, participants can be compared and evaluated on the basis of position, rank, relative power, seniority and the like. But in a holarchy each person’s value comes from his or her individuality and uniqueness and the capacity to engage and interact with others to make the fruits of that uniqueness available."
Holarchy in Multiagent Systems
Multiagent systems are systems composed of autonomous software entities. They are able to simulate a system or to solve problems. Holarchy may be easily mapped to hierarchy of agents in which an agent is composed of agents and may have its own behavior as a partial consequence of these part's behaviors.Janus Multiagent Platform
Janus (multi-agent and holonic platform)
Janus is the name of a multiagent simulation platform, useful for simulating the interaction of agents and their emergent collective behavior...
is a software platform able to execute holarchy of agents.
See also
- HeterarchyHeterarchyA heterarchy is a system of organization replete with overlap, multiplicity, mixed ascendancy, and/or divergent-but-coexistent patterns of relation...
- HolismHolismHolism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
- Holism in ecological anthropologyHolism in ecological anthropologyHolism on its own is a method or tool for thinking critically about a certain topic or issue. It is an all-inclusive idea that the "whole is greater than the sum of its parts". A way to ensure that all aspects of an issue are considered and all perspectives are taken into consideration. ...
- Modular designModular designModular design, or "modularity in design" is an approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities...
- NoosphereNoosphereNoosphere , according to the thought of Vladimir Vernadsky and Teilhard de Chardin, denotes the "sphere of human thought". The word is derived from the Greek νοῦς + σφαῖρα , in lexical analogy to "atmosphere" and "biosphere". Introduced by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 1922 in his Cosmogenesis"...
- Ontology modularization
- PolytelyPolytelyPolytely can be described as frequently, complex problem-solving situations characterized by the presence of not one, but several goals, endings.Modern societies face an increasing incidence of various complex problems...
- Process philosophyProcess philosophyProcess philosophy identifies metaphysical reality with change and dynamism. Since the time of Plato and Aristotle, philosophers have posited true reality as "timeless", based on permanent substances, whilst processes are denied or subordinated to timeless substances...