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Cited by 58Sustainable Agricultural Systems AnalysisComplex Systems and Decision MakingChaos, Complexity, and Education

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A holon approach to agroecology

Bland, William L., Bell, Michael M.·2007·International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
DOI 10.1080/14735903.2007.9684828
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Abstract

Systems thinking contributes to envisioning agricultural sustainability. However, it faces two dilemmas, recently highlighted by complexity theory: the problems of boundary and change. We propose that interpreting Koestler's holon as an intentional entity embedded in an ecology of contexts provides an ontological construct which addresses both of these issues. The holon is in some ways a whole and in other ways a part, and to see it simultaneously as both we suggest an epistemological tool that we term flickering. In our interpretation a holon is bounded by its intentionality to persist, and the imperative to do so in multiple, incommensurable, and ever-evolving contexts motivates—indeed, makes both possible and inevitable—change. Farms are compelling examples of holons, as their humans plan and act to maintain them as a source of livelihood, necessarily in contexts as diverse and shifting as climate, life histories, trade rules, subsidies, personal spirituality and public perceptions of agricultural practices.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/14735903.2007.9684828

Cites

42 of 42 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

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Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • To address complex sustainability problems, design work taking place at different scales should not be carried out separately; researchers should bring together knowledge and innovations from various organisational levels into systemic, multi-scaled innovations.

    “It is well established that to address complex sustainability problems, design work taking place at different scales should not be carried out separately: researchers should bring together knowledge and innovations from various organisational levels into systemic, multi-scaled innovations authors (Berthet etal. 2016; Bland and Bell 2007; Meynard etal. 2017; Pigford etal. 2018).”

    From Designing agroecological systems across scales: a new analytical framework (2022) · cites this paper as Bland and Bell 2007

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Bawden R. J., 1992, Field Crop Ecosystems, 11
  2. Bell M. M., Humanity and Society.
  3. Onions C. T., 1955, The Oxford Universal Dictionary on Historical Principles.
  4. Rosen R., 1991, Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry into the Nature, Origin, and Foundation of Life.

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Metadata

Authors
Bland, W. L., & Bell, M. M.
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
ORCID
Bell, Michael M.
Venue
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2007-01
Volume
5
Issue
4
Pages
280-294
ISSN
  • 1473-5903 (ISSN-L)
  • 1747-762X
DOI
10.1080/14735903.2007.9684828
OpenAlex
W2110960700
Cited by
58
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
1.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Complex Systems and Decision Making
  • Social Sciences › Education › Chaos, Complexity, and Education
Keywords
holons, agroecology, systems thinking, complexity theory, boundary problem, change, intentionality, flickering, ontology, farms, sustainable agriculture

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