1/3Yesterday's Word of the Day - Holistically
Kamala Harris gave an interview in which she said she believes issues should be approached holistically. That sounds OK, superficially. It sounds a little like, treat the whole problem. When you look a little deeper, you realize that the opposite of holism is atomism (also know as individualism). Individualism, by definition, sounds like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Does this mean that a holistic approach to the issues we now face would be unconstitutional? Does it mean that our individual rights would be cast aside by a possible Harris/Walz Administration? Does it mean that we would be expected to conform to our leaders' belief systems? Anon does not know.
When Harris talks about approaching issues holistically, she is little light on the details. Maybe we should look for clarity in the "Whole-of-Government" approach exemplified by the Biden/Harris Administration's Executive Orders.
Merriam-Webster -Holistically
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of or relating to holism
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relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or
dissection into parts
- holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body
-holistic ecology views humans and the environment as a single system
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holistically
Merriam-Webster -Holistic
-
of or relating to holism
-
relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or
dissection into parts
- holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body
- holistic ecology views humans and the environment as a single system
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holistic
Merriam-Webster -Holism
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a theory that the universe and especially living nature is correctly seen in terms of interacting wholes (as of living organisms) that are more than the mere sum of elementary particles
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a study or method of treatment that is concerned with wholes or with complete systems : a holistic study or method of treatment
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holism
Merriam-Webster -Atomism
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a doctrine that the physical or physical and mental universe is composed of simple indivisible minute particles
2.individualismsense 1
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atomism
Merriam-Webster -Individualism
1.
a. a doctrine that the interests of the individual are or ought to be ethically paramount
also : conduct guided by such a doctrine
2. the conception that all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals
b. a theory maintaining the political and economic independence of the individual and stressing individual initiative, action, and interests
also : conduct or practice guided by such a theory
2.
a. individuality
b. an individual peculiarity : idiosyncrasy
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/individualism
Merriam-Webster -Wholistically
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Holistic
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholistic