Box 1.
A Comparison of the Reductionistic and Holistic Paradigms3
| Reductionistic Paradigm | Holistic Paradigm |
|---|---|
| Particularism and Reductionism: Everything in nature can be reduced to and explained by its parts—cells, molecules, and atoms—and their interaction. | Holism: There is a supramolecular, holistic order in nature; holistic, hierarchical higher natural laws can be found and applied. |
| Materialism, mechanicism: Every living organism and process can be explained in total by laws of physics and chemistry, equivalent to a machine. | Living nature is a quality of its own: There are special natural laws in living nature, above and in addition to physics and chemistry that can be found and applied. |
| Darwinism: The only cause of evolutionary change is chance and selection by survival advantage. | Evolutionary holism: There are specific laws of nature that guide evolution. |