ABSTRACT

Holism: Possibilities and Problems brings together leading contributors in a ground-breaking discussion of holism. The terms ‘holism’ and ‘holistic’ arouse strong emotional responses in contemporary culture, whether this be negative or positive, and the essays in this interdisciplinary collection probe, each in its own way, the possibilities and problems inherent in thinking holistically.

Christian McMillan, Roderick Main and David Henderson bring together established academics and emerging scholars across subject areas and disciplinary approaches to reveal the multiplicity and complexity of issues involved in holism. Divided into four parts, the chapters determine key strands of thinking explicitly or implicitly underpinning contemporary holistic thought, including what ethical conclusions might most reasonably be drawn from such thought. Accessible and diverse, this extensive volume contains chapters from the perspective of history, ecology, psychotherapy, poetry, mythology, and an especially strong representation of continental philosophy and Jungian depth psychology. Due to its multi-disciplinary nature, the book represents an unparalleled discussion of the meanings and implications of holism.

Written by an innovative and international calibre of contributors, this pioneering collection will be essential reading for practitioners in depth psychology and scholars of Jungian studies, as well as academics and students of philosophy, religious studies, spirituality, history and the history of ideas. The book is a rich resource for the enhancement of critical reflection among all those with an interest in holism.

chapter |14 pages

Introduction

ByRoderick Main, Christian McMillan, David Henderson

part Part I|38 pages

History and contexts

chapter 3|11 pages

Georg Ernst Stahl’s holistic organism

ByBarbara Helen Miller

part Part II|46 pages

Analytical psychology

part Part III|58 pages

Philosophy

chapter 9|8 pages

A whole made of holes: Interrogating holism via Jung and Schelling

ByGordon Barentsen

chapter 10|9 pages

Jung, Spinoza, Deleuze: A move towards realism

ByRobert Langan

chapter 11|12 pages

Kant’s influence on Jung’s vitalism in the Zofingia Lectures

ByChristian McMillan

chapter 12|11 pages

An emergent, critical realist understanding of holism 1

ByIan Hornsby

chapter 13|8 pages

Synchronicity: Between wholes and alterity

ByRico Sneller

chapter 14|8 pages

Why don’t holisms describe the whole? The psyche as a case study

ByJ. Linn Mackey

part Part IV|31 pages

Practice and the arts

chapter 15|11 pages

A synchronistic experience in Serbia

ByRichard Berengarten

chapter 17|8 pages

The CORE Trust: The holistic approach to addiction

ByJason Wright