The World as an Organic Whole

THE ORGANIC CONCEPTION OF THE WORLD

THE organic and the inorganic conception of the world are the two main opposites which divide the representatives of the various systems of philosophy. The essence of these two conceptions may be described as follows. Those who take the inorganic view conceive of a complex whole with distinguishable parts A, B, C, D, as made up of elements A, B, C’, D, capable of existing on their own account independently both of each other and of the whole in which they are found. ‘The elements are taken to be self-subsistent to such an extent that if B, C, D completely disappeared A would go on existing as before. Coming together in space, these elements may form a group and thus give rise to a complex whole. According to this view, the elements are absolute, primordial, and exist unconditionally. ‘The whole is, on the contrary, relative, derivative, and entirely determined by its parts. In other words, plurality is regarded as primary and unity as secondary and as conditioned by the plurality.