On Systems Thinking: The Parts and the Whole

Photo: Capra's The Turning Point in the hands of dear friend Patabi Raman

"Bahá'í teachings are essentially systemic in nature. The view of humanity as an indivisible whole is paramount in Bahá'í teachings. Yet individual parts are not subdued for the primacy of the whole. On the contrary, the whole and its constituent parts interact harmoniously in...a 'social system.' A social system not only has a purpose of its own, each part of the system has its own purpose (e.g. spiritual growth) which cannot be achieved independent of the purpose of the whole (i.e. transformation of human society, ever advancing civilisation). This is in contrast to a mechanistic (Newtonian) system or an organic system, in which parts of the system while having individual functions do not have independent purposes (e.g. while the human body has a purpose, the heart or the lungs do not have a purpose of their own). At the societal level too, Bahá'í teachings are the embodiment of systemic view as they operate in interaction with each other. Stated differently, none of the social teachings of the Faith can singly, and in isolation from other teachings, provide a complete solution on its own. For example, without 'independent investigation of truth' and 'elimination of prejudices,' the goal of 'equality of men and women' is unachievable."

Kambiz Maani, "Commentary on Roy Steiner's 'The Bahá'í community as a learning organisation'"