32 2 HOLISM AND EVOLUTION chap. 



of Science, and the explanation of things which it purports to 

 give is not a scientific explanation. Even assuming that 

 there is such an activity as Holism at work in the universe, 

 it would have no value for Science. To be of interest to 

 Science, it must make a difference to actual facts and there- 

 fore be capable of experimental verification. But clearly 

 Holism, owing to its pervasiveness and universality, cannot 

 be so tested. As its presence would not be revealed by an 

 examination of the particular facts, mechanisms and pheno- 

 mena with which Science deals, it is unnecessary for Science 

 to take any further interest in it. 



I hope I have fairly summarised the attitude which 

 Science might perhaps feel impelled to adopt towards the 

 claims I have put forward on behalf of Holism. And I 

 would reply by pointing out what seems to me to be the 

 weakness or rather the one-sidedness and partialness in this 

 strictly scientific attitude. Science seems to me to take too 

 narrow a view of her sphere and functions when she confines 

 herself merely to details, to the investigation and description 

 of the detailed mechanisms and processes in regard to mat- 

 ters falling within her province. A description of analytical 

 details, however true so far as it goes, is not yet a full and 

 proper account of the thing or matter to be described. It 

 is not enough; the details must be supplemented by a de- 

 scription which will take us back to the whole embracing 

 those details. The anatomy and physiology of a plant would 

 surely not be sufficient as a description of the plant itself. 

 No description of the parts is a complete description of the 

 whole object; it is only a partial description, and falls short 

 of a true and full account in proportion as the object par- 

 takes of the character of a whole; where the object, for in- 

 stance, is what I have called a biological or psychical whole. 

 We may say generally that wherever an object shows struc- 

 ture or organisation (as every object does) a full descrip- 

 tion of it would involve at the very least an account of this 

 structure or organisation as a whole, in addition to its de- 

 tailed mechanisms and functions. And where many objects 

 show similar or related structures, a proper description would 



