Holism vs. Reductionism in Environmental Science
There are various scientific approaches to agricultural sustainability. Research can be holistic, reductionistic, statistical, or systematic. Philosophical beliefs often guide the choice. Each approach has strengths and weaknesses, and solutions are often
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Holism vs. Reductionism in Environmental Science
Abstract There are various scientific approaches to agricultural sustainability. Research can be holistic, reductionistic, statistical, or systematic. Philosophical beliefs often guide the choice. Each approach has strengths and weaknesses, and solutions are often gained by a combination. Nevertheless, the reductionistic approach is the one most favored by scientists, granting agencies, and journal editors, because in the past, reductionistic science was the driving force for the tremendous gains in farm yield that improved the lives and economy of farmers and city dwellers alike. However, the critical goal now is not increasing yield, but producing yield sustainably, that is, in a manner that does not pollute the environment and at a price that is affordable. There is enough yield to feed everyone in the world (but getting the yield to the people who need it is another matter). Reductionistic science can propose mechanisms for increasing sustainability, but the holistic approach can determine which mechanisms will solve the problem. Keywords Holism in agriculture • Holism in agricultural research • Holism in agricultural management • Holism in environmental science • Reductionism in agricultural research
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Holism vs. Reductionism
Holism is looking at the properties of a system in its entirety, properties such as energy use efficiency, nutrient cycling efficiency, productivity, and nutrient discharge. These are properties that have direct relevance to management questions such as sustainability. Reductionism is looking at mechanisms that influence these properties. In an agricultural ecosystem, nutrient cycling efficiency is a property of the entire system. Reductionism is looking at the mechanisms that contribute to nutrient cycling efficiency. For example, reductionism tells us that phosphorus solubilization by the soil organic matter sub-system can contribute to nutrient cycling efficiency of the entire ecosystem. C.F. Jordan, An Ecosystem Approach to Sustainable Agriculture: Energy Use Efficiency in the American South, Environmental Challenges and Solutions 1, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6790-4_8, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
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8 Holism vs. Reductionism in Environmental Science
Holism and reductionism exist at all hierarchical levels of biological organization. An ecosystem scientist considers physiology to be reductionistic. A physiologist considers cell biology to be reductionistic. A cell biologist considers a molecular biology to be reductionistic. A molecular biologist considers biochemistry to be reductionistic. Going the other direction, a biochemist considers molecular biology to be holistic, a molecular biologist considers cell biology be holistic, and so forth. A reductionistic scientist helps explain properties of the next higher level in the biological hierarchy.
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Holism
Holism is necessary for solving management problems. It helps frame the question that managers need to answer, and directs the research to answ
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