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> = Holism = The term Holism (from Greek ὅλος holos "all, whole, entire") was coined by J C Smuts in Holism and Evolution. It was Smuts' opinion that Holism is a concept that represents all of the wholes in the universe; and that it is a factor because the wholes it denotes are the real factors in the universe. Further, it was his opinion that Holism also denoted a theory of the universe in the same vein as materialism and spiritualism; maintaining that the ultimate reality in the universe is neither matter nor spirit but wholes as defined in Holism and Evolution. Smuts also had the opinion that Holism might be used to denote a theory of reality, however, his opinion was that its primary and proper use was to denote the totality of wholes which operate as real factors and give to reality its dynamic evolutionary creative character. It is important to note that there have been no significant secondary sources corroborating Smuts' opinions and the current meaning as stated at the top of this section is the correct understanding at this point in time. If elaborations to Holism for the mental, personal and social categories are provided and a case is made for Holism as a bonafide monistic ontology, we can revisit the vision of Holism that Smuts held.

General concept, functions and categories
This section provides an overview of Smuts' opinions regarding the general concept, functions, and categories of Holism; like the definition of Holism, other than the idea that the whole is greater than the sum ofpits parts, there has been no significant secondary sources corroborating his opinions. However, it is important to note them as they represent the basis for providing the elaborations to Holism for the mental, personal and social categories of wholes.

Structure
Wholes are composites which have an internal structure, function or character which clearly differentiates them from mechanical additions, aggregates, and constructions, such as science assumes on the mechanical hypothesis.[1]  This concept of structure is not confined to the physical domain (e.g. chemical, biological and artifacts); it also applies to the metaphysical domain (e.g. mental structures, properties, attributes, values, ideals, etc.)

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Social scientist and physician Nicholas A. Christakis explains that "for the last few centuries, the Cartesian project in science has been to break matter down into ever smaller bits, in the pursuit of understanding. And this works, to some extent... but putting things back together in order to understand them is harder, and typically comes later in the development of a scientist or in the development of science.

Holism is a form of antireductionism, which is the complement of reductionism. Reductionism analyzes a complex system by subdividing or reduction to more fundamental parts. For example, the processes of biology are reducible to chemistry, and the laws of chemistry are explained by physics.