ABSTRACT
This chapter first introduces the concept of mosaic effect (Section 6.1) in general terms. It then illustrates the special characteristics of holarchic systems with examples (Section 6.2). This class of systems can generate and preserve an integrated set of nonequivalent identities (defined in parallel on different levels and therefore scales) for their constituent holons. The expected relationship among the characteristics of this integrated set of identities makes it possible to obtain some free information when performing a multi-scale analysis. This is the basic rationale for the multi-scale mosaic effect. A multi-scale analysis requires establishing an integrated set of meaningful relationships between perceptions and representations of typologies (identities) defined on different hierarchical levels and space-time domains. This means that in holarchic systems we can look for useful mosaic effects when considering the relations between parts and the whole.
