Capable Quote by Hermann Weyl
“The whole is always more, is more capable of a much greater variety of wave states, than the combination of its parts. ... In this very radical sense, quantum physics supports the doctrine that the whole is more than the combination of its parts.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "Space, Time, Matter" by Hermann Weyl, 1918
The whole exhibits properties not predictable from its parts alone.
In simple terms: Whole is greater than sum of parts.
Key Takeaway
Consider emergent properties in systems.
Themes
emergence
holism
complexity
physics
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teamwork
- ecosystem management
- software architecture
- policy design
Key Concepts
systems theory
quantum mechanics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify emergent behavior?
- When might focusing on parts be sufficient?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems can be unpredictable, making control difficult.
![“Without the concepts, methods and results found and developed by previous generations right down to Greek antiquity one cannot understand either the aims or achievements of mathematics in the last 50 years. [Said in 1950]” quote by Hermann Weyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a74/hermann-weyl-16709_achievement_without-the-concepts-methods-and-results_922221.jpg)
![“[The Community's] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it is always upon nothingness that God is pleased to rear His works. If at any day we accomplish some good here, the glory will certainly be His alone, since…” quote by Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b8/theodore-guerin-54729_accomplish_the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give_7176.jpg)
