Question

How does the process of perceptual organisation help us to evolve the concept of "wholeness"? elaborate?

Answer 1

In his book 'The Wholeness of Nature' Henri Bortoft explores the concept of wholeness and uses his words to guide the reader towards an understanding of what he calls 'Authentic and Counterfeit Wholes'. The concept of wholeness isn't an easy one to discuss because in the very discussion of it, it is turned into an object, it therefore appears to be separate from those discussing it, it becomes a 'part' and therefore no longer whole. This is what Henri refers to as a counterfeit whole. The wholeness has been turned into a part for examination. This is the problem that conventional science or anyone predominantly using their thinking function to explore wholeness will run into. The thinking function by its very nature creates a sense of a self which is separate from that which is observed. Therefore what ever is observed using the thinking function becomes either a subject or object. This is the conundrum which many explorers of life and cognition have grappled with over course of human history.