Is there a word in any language that is defined as many insignificant parts (or actions) that together creates (or results in) a significant thing (or action)?
If not, how would one structure a new word in English that describes this, in your professional opinion?
Thanks
In English we have a word "Gestalt" which we borrowed in from German. It literally means "An organised whole greater than the sum of it's parts".
In English the nearest one can get to this is the word 'holistic'. In philosophical terms it means that the components are related and therefore one needs to consider the whole to appreciate the value of the components: i.e the parts require the sum. Thus, the sum is greater than the parts, because the parts need one another.
What if the parts were acting in a more altruistic manner and didn't require the sum? For example, many volunteers doing insignificant pieces of work, together result in a significant positive change. The change could be for something that doesn't benefit them personally, but the result is great.
Asked: 2018-07-04 21:56:15 -0400
Seen: 4,754 times
Last updated: Jul 08 '18
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