Using Holarchies

An Essay on Writing
by Dave Swinford

In his book, The Ghost In The Machine, Arthur Koestler coined the term holarchy. It combines the Greek word holos meaning "whole" with hierarkhia for High Priest, which is a root for the term hierarchy. It is intended to describe a hierarchically organized group of independent units called holons. A holon may, in itself, be a holarchy of lesser holons.

The Internet Writing Workshop is an example of a social holarchy. Its holons are the various lists, which are themselves made up of holons identified as administrators and members. The IWW may be viewed as a holon of the larger holarchy, Internet Writing Groups, which may be viewed as a holon of Educational Writing Groups, and so on.

One advantage of a holarchy is its fluid nature, especially in social hierarchies. Holons of one holarchy might also elect to become holons of a different holarchy or group. In the IWW, this means that members of a critiquing list, such as the Non-fiction list, may also elect to be holons or members of the Writing discussion list or other critiquing lists. Thus there can be a fluid flow of holons within the larger holarchy of the IWW. Yet, if conflicts or problems arise between members or a member's understanding of list guidelines, the ability of the administrators to move up and view the issues in terms of the larger holarchy of the whole list or even to step up further to view it in terms of the whole IWW often makes the resolution clear and unambiguous.

Another advantage of this fluidity is the ability of the administrators to think of their lists as a holon of a holarchy called Types of Writing. This enables them to better define the focus and purposes of a particular list. In other words, the concept of holarchies and holons more accurately describe the way groups or categories actually interact and overlap rather than to try to mold them to fit into a rigid set of hierarchies.

This concept can apply to writing in various ways. One may approach a story or article as a holarchy of individual parts or holons. Or, a story may be viewed as a holon of some larger holarchy that might be called genres, and genres might've viewed as holans of the larger whole, market. And of course, these holarchies can be viewed in terms of more specialized holons, such as Sub-genres or Types of Publications.

Suppose your muse inspired you to do a story. You submit it for critiques, and several critters wonder if your story is Chicklit, SF or Mystery, because it contains elements of all three genres. It's a question you had not considered when writing the story, but it's something you will need to clarify if you intend to market it. Viewing the elements of your story in terms of the holarchy of genre offers a means of evaluating which of the three genres is most likely to accept your hybrid.

After considering your story in terms of the larger holarchies, you may conclude that SF is the most likely genre to accept your innovative hybrid. With a bit of luck, you may even create a new sub-genre.

Although the concept of holarchies may, at first, seem artificial and unnecessary, being aware of this tool, can actually prove most helpful when analyzing a problem. Consciously stepping back to view from the larger whole often puts the issue in a different perspective. It provides a means for reframing the problem that may simplify the solution. If it simplifies, then it has practical value. Give it a try and decide for yourself.

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