1. Plural of organicism; philosophical or theoretical positions that emphasize organic unity, holistic systems, or the view that wholes cannot be reduced to their parts.
Usage: academic; philosophy; social theory
2. In biology and ecology, theoretical frameworks that treat organisms or ecosystems as integrated wholes with emergent properties.
Usage: scientific; biology

Examples

• Early organicisms in social theory viewed society as a living organism with interdependent parts.
• The philosopher critiqued various organicisms for failing to account for individual agency.
• Modern organicisms in ecology emphasize the interconnectedness of species within ecosystems.
• Different organicisms have emerged across disciplines, from literature to political science.
• The debate between organicisms and reductionism continues to shape contemporary scientific methodology.