… systems somehow function as wholes and that their functioning cannot be fully understood solely in terms of their component parts.

— Wikipedia on Holism

Correction:

Actually it can. But to determine the behavior of each component, you have to examine of the effects of all other components on it, which is possible in principle, although maybe difficult in practice.

In this sense, there is no conflict between holism and reductionism. Instead, they support each other.

— Me@2011.11.29

2012.02.08 Wednesday (c) All rights reserved by ACHK