results in fragmented knowledge.' This leads some people
biosciences in a variety of contexts. Systems Biology
to argue that inappropriate use of reductionism limits our
is about putting together rather than taking apart,
understanding of complex systems and there is nothing
integration rather than reduction. It requires that we
more complex than a living, relating human being.
develop ways of thinking about integration that are as
Holism
The other approach to scientific enquiry, which is
rigorous as our reductionist programs, but different. It
means changing our philosophy, in the full sense of the
term.
now emerging, is called holism. Holism is a form
One of the outreaching aims of Systems Biology is
of anti-reductionism, and which is by definition the
to model and discover emergent properties, properties
complement of reductionism. This bottom-up approach
of cells, tissues and organisms functioning as a system
to science is the idea that natural systems (physical,
whose theoretical description is only possible using
biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic,
techniques which fall under the remit of Systems Biology.
medical) and their properties should be viewed as wholes,
not as collections of parts. This often includes the view
Integrative Medicine
that systems function as wholes and that their functioning
The future of medicine must and will be an integration
cannot be fully understood solely in terms of their
of all the proceeding forms of medicine – and a step
component parts. In the latter half of the 20th century,
into uncertainty. It must be scientific but the discipline
holism led to what is called Systems thinking. Systems in
of science must be reconfigured to include both holism
biology, psychology, medicine or sociology are frequently
and reductionism, as well as