Principle that a whole may have a value which is different from, and not predictable on the basis of, the values of its parts.
The attractiveness, for example, of a picture cannot normally be predicted from that of each color-patch taken separately.
The principle was made much of by George Edward Moore (1873-1958), who distinguished his use from earlier, non-ethical, uses.
Also see: organicism, holism
Source:
G E Moore, Principia Ethica (1903), 18-22
Table of Contents
Last update 2020-06-17. Price and product availability may change.