![[Holon]] # Dual Nature: Every holon possesses two inherent tendencies or "faces": - Self-assertive tendency: This dimension represents the holon acting as a whole unto itself, expressing its uniqueness, autonomy, and independence. - Integrative tendency: This dimension expresses the holon's dependence on the larger whole to which it belongs, acting as a part within a larger whole. # Balance of Tendencies: - The "job of every holon is to figure out how to balance these two" opposing tendencies. For example, a cell in a body strives to survive as a cell (self-assertion) while also integrating into the larger body (integration). - Similarly, individuals in society need ambition and initiative (self-assertion) but are also dependent on and must be integrated into their social life (integration). # Consequences of Imbalance: When this balance breaks down, negative outcomes can occur: - If the self-assertive tendency dominates at the expense of integration, it can lead to problems akin to cancer. - Conversely, if people get swept up in their integrative capacity to an extreme, such as in mass delusions, it can also lead to negative consequences. This suggests that self-assertion is crucial as a balance to prevent excessive integration. # Constraint Regimes: Holons create "constraint regimes" at the level of the whole, which establish interdependencies among the parts. This means that parts within a larger holon lose some autonomy, which is what actually creates the system. The sovereignty of the whole can, therefore, come at the expense of the sovereignty of its parts. # Holarchy: ![[Holarchy]] # Transformation and Resonance: Instead of viewing holons as static and unchanging, there are "upward and downward causal forces" between holonic levels that allow parts and wholes to transform each other. This transformation can align the self-interest of a part with the interest of the larger whole, a process described as resonance. In resonance, self-assertion and integration become "coterminous," meaning they are aligned and enhance each other, rather than being in opposition. For instance, a violinist in resonance with an orchestra expresses individual talent (self-assertion) while naturally aligning with the whole performance (integration). This deeper, resonant understanding goes beyond metaphors of submission or domination. # Sources - [Beyond Sovereignty and Submission: The complex role of the modern individual within the noosphere](https://youtu.be/SjyGz6Z9Ys4?si=sPHz8tyf_DchaSE1)