Is the whole always different than the sum of its parts?

Question

Gestalt psychology tends to focus on individual perception of objects as opposed to objective facts regarding these objects.

My question is more broad. Is the whole always different than the sum of its parts? Take human beings for example. Is a human being simply legs, arms, a torso, a head, a brain, etc? Or is a complete human being something more than just the parts that it is made up of?

Take a piece of writing. Is that piece of writing something greater than the letters and words that are on each page, added together?

I'd like to know what you think.. I think that in most cases there is some factor that distinguishes the whole from simply its parts added together. But then, what is that special entity that comprises the whole and cannot be captured in its parts?

Answer 1

Yes the whole, if it's a true whole, is always different than it's parts. The reason is the concept of a whole only deals with one class of objects: things that have a function. Only three types of arrangements of matter have function: living things, things created by living things with a purpose in mind, and things that accidentally made life possible. Of course, the concept of function has to be put into context. To function as an autonomous individual we need all are parts working but working towards that goal and/or desire we want. Of course, a person who is missing an arm is still a person but they have lost some autonomy. The concept of function with human beings means to be an autonomous individual. A boat is greater than its parts because the function as a boat would be lessen or nonexistent if it loses parts. Think Titanic -- it was a bad day for passengers when it was damaged to the point it could not function. The sun's accidentally function (accidentally in the sense we are assuming that it wasn't designed) of warming the planet to make life possible is its function, as we see it. Half a sun is a really bad day for everyone concerned.

Answer 2

let me ask you in return,

is a leg or an arm human if it's not connected with other body parts?

on the other hand, would a man be less human if he has no arms or legs?

Answer 3

The whole cannot be assumed to be more than the sum of its parts, but it often can be. For example, if you had a jigsaw puzzle in which all of the pieces are red, then the whole puzzle, as well as the parts, will be red, so the whole will equal the sum of its parts. Sometimes the whole can be more, as when people cooperate on a task together, so that they can achieve more as a team than any of them could as individuals.

Answer 4

What constitutes a whole, is relative to perspective.  All wholes are parts of one greater. And all parts are wholes of one smaller.  

Answer 5

I'll answer your question with another question, Is humanity of an individual any different than the humanity of group of people. That is to say that it may be different but also a reflection of the parts that make the greater whole.

Answer 6

You guys roaming into details, missing the essence. Simple example of a Whole is an Idea integrated within kids toy called kaleidoscope. Same few colorful stones reflect each other and producing unlimited number of pictures. I mean unlimited, infinity. It is well would be so, that Whole producing itself in infinity forms, just changing locations and relations of its details in most harmonious way. We doing the same but unable to put even a few details together not knowing a law of harmony...or, perhaps , being disharmonious ourselves.

Answer 7

Sounds like someone is searching for souls or spirits.

Regardless of any religion / God one follows, what is the body-less soul / spirit if not defined by the experience, action, legacy and the cultural relationship all combined and connected together?  That's the human life, the humanity.  How is that not greater than the sum of the individual human beings?  How is that continuing process not greater than one generation of the whole history before us?

We often question meaning of life and reason of being, but failing to address our ability to shape that life and create intentions for the future and future generations.  All of that is not meaningless and could be done in the name of humanity.  Our wishes, our dreams could be turned into reality through our own hands, sweat, tears and blood.  In my opinion, those trump any religious pretext hands down.

Answer 8

The whole consists of all the parts plus the configuration found in the whole. Thus, the whole has a greater information content than the sum of its parts.

Answer 9

do you deserve an answer? if your intension smells in your question?