The Interdisciplinary Circulation of “Holism”

From the Interwar Era to the 1980s

Abstract

Holism is a term loaded with multiple meanings. Coined by statesman and botanist Jan Smuts in 1926, it was mainly used in academia until its public breakthrough around 1980. This article explores holism’s interdisciplinary circulation in science during, roughly, its first sixty years of existence, focusing on ecology, psychology, medicine, social science, pedagogy, and philosophy. While primarily an epistemic term, holism has carried ideological and spiritual connotations that have shifted over time, from associations with totalitarianism in the interwar era, to environmentalism and New Age spirituality since the 1970s. By tracing the interdisciplinary history of holism—its use in different contexts, what its partner and counter terms have been, what its appeal has consisted of, and what its critics have rejected—this article also expounds why holism is prevalent today and puts us in a better position to assess its scientific merit.