What is 'Whole Science'?

Whole Science is a brand new concept. It's the understanding that science is becoming more whole, or holistic. What does that mean? I’m sure you’ve heard of holistic medicine, whereby the medicine aims to treat the whole person- mind and body- rather than just the body. Once, we understood health as being only physical- but now the importance of the mind and emotions are now recognised as having a significant impact on our health.

A similar transformation is occurring in science in general. Mainstream science as we know it is undergoing a paradigm shift. A paradigm is a framework, a set of expectations on how we view the world.

Our current scientific paradigm is rational, deals with facts, and maintains ‘objectivity’ as the means to find truth. It centres itself around the external world of matter- things we can measure, predict and control. I’m sure you’ve heard of the scientist Richard Dawkins, author of the ‘God Delusion’ who is an advocate of our current scientific model. 

The ‘new’ paradigm that is beginning to emerge is based on the principles of holistic science- that all things are interconnected. This includes our ‘subjectivity’- our mind and its effects on the world.

This means that our values, beliefs and intentions are not separate from the world. Our inner ‘state’ can affect external reality. Popular media examples of this would be the movies ‘The Secret’ and ‘What the Bleep do we know’ and their background in quantum physics.

 
These two perceptions of our reality are often seen as opposing and separate. There is a split between the two (Its called ‘Cartesian Dualism’, after the philosopher Descartes decided that mind and matter were two separate things). However, this split is now beginning to disappear as science includes consciousness in how we understand the world. Science is now integrating these two spheres of our experience.

The concept Whole Science also involves the idea that science is becoming more healthy, or whole. The word ‘whole’ comes from the old English root word ‘hal’ which means healthy. So as science is incorporating our consciousness, our mind, into the study of the world we can say that science is becoming healthier.

How?

Well, for centuries our consciousness has been left out of science-it was dismissed as insignificant. So the typical scientist’s mind- their emotions and their thoughts, were seen to ‘get in the way’ of science.

This meant that rationality was seen to be the only way to gain knowledge -and value, or meaning, was out of the picture.

This unbalance or fragmentation, both within ourselves and in science, is now being to be readdressed in a Whole Science understanding of our world:                       

At the moment, however, you may know that these two ‘sides’ are fighting a fierce battle. One side argues that we should value the material world, the outer experience of our five senses, the other argues for the inclusion of our mental world, the inner experience of the world. Many debates centre around ‘who is right’. So what do you think?

Whole Science is the recognition that rather than an either/or scenario in science, both of these spheres of our experience are necessary for us to achieve health.

Whole Science provides a platform for both the individual and the collective- a place to not only learn how science is changing, but to discover what that might mean for you.

As well as providing the latest in frontier research, the scientific facts are coupled with practical information of how this knowledge can add meaning and value to your life. So why not explore and investigate our growing network of scientists, writers, organisations and people- all passionate to help you Discover The Power of You.

Want a more detailed explanation? Click here for the transcription of the audio programme 'What is Whole Science?'.