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 Synergism and the Cosmic Human-- in Cosmology, Philosophy, & Spirituality

Synergism and the Biological Human-- in Anatomy/Physiology, & Biosphere (symbiosis, bio-diversity in ecosystems, etc.)

Synergism and the Social Human-- in Social Basics, in Economics, in Health and Health Care, in Aesthetics, & in Culture

  1. Total Human Development and Harmony Through Synergism

  2. Holistic Health Care and Medicine

  3. Deep Ecology and Harmony with Nature 

  4. Sense of History and Sense of Mission

  5. Civics and Democratic Governance

  6. Culture as Community Creativity

  7. Light-Seeking and Light-Sharing Education

  8. Gender Sensitivity, Equality & Harmony

  9. Reconstructive/Restor-ative Justice

10. Associative Economics, Social Capital and Sustainable Development

11. Synergetic Leadership and Organizations

12. Appropriate/Adaptive Technology

13. Mutual Enrichment of Families and Friendships

14. Human Dignity and Human Harmony: Human Rights and Peace

15. Aesthetics Without Boundaries: 'Art from the Heart'   

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Definitions of Synergism-1*

By (Various Authors)

http://www.walden3d.com/w3d/admin/Backbone.html

Dictionary:

1. The cooperative action of discrete agencies such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the two effects taken independently;

2. The doctrine that in regeneration there is a cooperation of divine grace and human activity. (Merrian-Webster Dictionary)

Buckminster Fuller: The behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the behavior of their parts. (Critical Path, St. Martin's Press, NY)

Stephen R. Covey: What is synergy? Simply defined it means that the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. It means that the relationship which the parts have to each other is a part in and of itself. It is not only a part, but the most catalytic, the most empowering, the most unifying, and the most exciting part. (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Simon and Schuster, NY)

Charles Hampden-Turner: Synergy comes from the Greek synergia, `a working with', and describes the capacity of two forces, persons, or structures of information to optimize one another and achieve mutual enhancement. (Maps of the Mind, Collier Books, NY):

Descriptions of Synergy http://www.walden3d.com/w3d/admin/Backbone.html

Synergism is a process balancing:

• heart and the head

• intellect and intuition

• temporal and spiritual

• poetry and work

• yin and yang

• right and left brain

• patron and artist

• technique and feeling

• science and religion

• realism and impressionism

• searching mind and mind of strong conviction

• pragmatist and dreamer

Ruth Benedict: the anthropologist and poet is credited with introducing the idea of synergy into social science. "From all comparative material the conclusion emerges that societies where non-agression is conspicuous have social orders in which the individual by the same act and at the same time serves his own advantage and that of the group." (Maps of the Mind, Charles Hampden-Turner, Collier Books, NY, page 148.)

Abraham Maslow: Synergy is indivisible. (Maps of the Mind, Charles Hampden-Turner, Collier Books, NY, page 148.)

 In Summary: Synergism, on a personal level, is the search for meaning in life, recognizing the need for wholistic harmony.

• Thomas Jefferson in The Declaration of Independence justified a change in government by appealing to a higher law.

• The newly acquired freedom was in danger of failure because of polarized groups.

• The Constitution brought polarities into harmony.

• The resulting synergy created a new freedom.

• Harmony is the balance of tensions, not the absence of tensions.

Synergism Synergism comes from the Greek sunergos meaning working together. The cooperative interaction of two ideas, objects, or organisms has relevance in many fields. In business, cooperation of subsidiaries and parts of a corporation result in an ehanced combined effect. In theology, it is the combination of divine grace and human will through which individual salvation is achieved. In physiology, it is the cooperation between muscles that produce coordinated movement. -----

Intellectual Synergism An important immediate consequence of this workshop beyond the greater understanding of PetaFLOPS computing systems achieved was the extraordinary synergism and cross fertilization of ideas that occurred among some of this Nation's major contributors to computer science. ----

Synergism of Chemicals "Synergism is the interaction of two or more agents so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects." For example, usual concentrations of sulphur dioxide alone would not produce respiratory problems, but in conjunction with suspended particles contributes to bronchitis and emphysema. The insecticide DDT is found in the ocean in small concentrations. DDT is not soluble in water, but is extremely soluble in oil. As a result of an oil spill, marine life is exposed to a much more harmful concentration of DDT than usual. Therefore, the effects of an oil spill are enhanced or synergistic. Sometimes the combined effect of multiple exposure is considerably greater than the sum of the effects from the individual components. This phenomenon can be one of synergism or potentiation. Synergism occurs when both chemicals have an effect individually and a more than additive effect when together. Potentiation is when one chemical has an effect but the second chemical does not but enhances the effect of the former chemical on combined exposure.

15.10 An example of a synergistic effect is the combined effect of solvents such as n-hexane and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) on the nervous system. In combination, the damage caused by simultaneous high concentrations of both these solvents is far greater than the sum of either of these substances acting alone.

15.11 Interaction can also arise from exposures via routes other than inhalation. For example, imbibed alcohol increases the narcotic effects of inhaled trichloroethylene. Interaction effects may also occur in connection with exposure to entirely different environmental factors such as simultaneous exposure to chemical agents and physical factors, such as light, heat and noise. Smoking of tobacco is known to have a synergistic effect in combination with, for example, inhaled particulates.

15.12 At present the understanding of interaction effects is incomplete. The knowledge that such effects can occur is reason to maintain the concentrations of individual substances as low as is practicable under complex exposure conditions. Reference As an aid to memory, synergism can be thought of as @ + 2 = 6; potentiation as 2 + 0 = 6.

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