( 



V GENERAL CONCEPT OF HOLISM 107 



which is still mostly implicit and unconscious: e.g, 

 in an animal. 



4. The central control becomes conscious and cul- 

 minates in Personality; at the same time it emerges 

 in more composite holistic groups in Society. 



5. In human associations this central control be- 

 comes super-individual in the State and similar group \ 

 organisations. | 



6. Finally, there emerge the ideal wholes, or Holistic ! 

 Ideals, or Absolute Values, disengaged and set free from 

 human personality, operating as creative factors on their 

 own account in the upbuilding of a spiritual world. 

 Such are the Ideals of Truth, Beauty and Goodness, 

 which lay the foundations of a new order in the universe. 



Through all these stages we see the ever-deepening nature 

 of the Whole as a specific structural synthesis of parts with 

 inner activities of its own which co-operate and function in 

 harmony, either naturally or instinctively or consciously. 

 The parts so co-operate and co-function towards a definite 

 inherent inner end of purpose that together they constitute 

 and form a whole more or less of a distinctive character, 

 with an identity and an ever-increasing measure of individu- 

 ality of its own. And the whole thus formed is creative at 

 all stages, even at the first, although this is only an inchoate, 

 immature stage. We thus arrive at the conception of aj 

 universe which is not a collection of accidents externally 

 put together like an artificial patchwork, but which is 

 synthetic, structural, active, vital and creative in increasing 

 measure all through, the progressive development of which 

 is shaped by one unique holistic activity operative from the 

 humblest inorganic beginnings to the most exalted creations 

 and ideals of the human and of the universal Spirit. 



We find thus a great unifying creative tendency of a 

 specific holistic character in the universe, operating through 

 and sustaining the forces and activities of nature and life and 

 mind, and giving ever more of a distinctive holistic character 

 to the universe. This creative tendency or principle we call 



