Holism is a philosophical view that a human is one being in contrast to the Cartesian view of dualism which separates the mind and body.  The main principle of holism is that the mind is greater than the sum of its parts.  Human potential can't be reached by mind over body or by mind directing the body.  It is reached with a person as one being.  which allows for unpredictable, creative, and insightful behavior.  This behavior enables a person to be one with society and with nature as well.

1.)  The Meaning of Holism. (http://world.std.com/~lo/95.06/0214.html).  Here several authors give their meanings of holism.

2.)  Anxiety and Transform Breathing. (http://www.transformbreathing.com/mind/anxiety.html). This link talks about a holistic method to treat anxiety.

3.)  A Metatheoretical Discourse. (http://www.iuj.ac.jp/media/stokes/meta-a25.htm).  Insight into the history of holism in Western thought is provided here.

4.)  What is Anarchist Holism? (http://www.rootmedia.org/~bad/anarchoholism.htm).  Each person has his or her own thoughts and values which require creativity.  You should follow your own being, not what someone else says.

5.)  Energy & Holism. (http://fx6.honeycomb.net/pm/articles/wellness/ortho.html) .  Healing comes from living in harmony with your own nature.  This link talks about getting to levels of your subconscious to learn the way you pattern your body.  This helps to restore your natural comfort.

6.)  Motherheart - Community. (http://gnv.fdt.net/~mother/com_index.html).  This link says that we can all live in harmony by loving one another.  We can live as one with each other and with the Earth.

7.)  Living Systems. (http://www.lucifer.com/~sasha/articles/LivingSystems.txt). This link attempts to present a common base for rational and holistic paradigms.  It tries to show methods for contact other living and thinking beings.

8.)  Society for Gestalt Theory and its Applications.  (http://rdz.stjohns.edu/~gerhard/gta/gtax.html#kap2). Insight into the Gestalt theory of psychology, which studies the being as a whole, is presented.

9.)  Jersey Shore Holistic Magazine. (http://www.jsholistic.org/).  This link shows human beings how they can achieve a balance with nature through holistic healing.

10.)  "Health Promotion" - What is it? (http://www.monash.edu.au/health/health.html).  This link tells the benefits of increasing health and promoting health through holism and caring.
 

Return to class readings page:  Kinesiology 493: Philosophy of Kinesiology