Reductionism: Parts Versus the Whole

A long-time teaching practice is reductionism— trying to teach a complex process or subject by breaking it into supposedly simpler parts that people think comprise the whole. The whole of modern science is based on this principle where bigger chunks are supposedly made of smaller chunks. Quantum theory is currently stuck there with a lot of unresolved answers. It says we are comprised of 16 particles plus the Higgs boson which is an odd duck all by itself.

T’ai Chi Chih teachers talk about the assumed building blocks of TCC — principles, flexible wrists, waist movement, hip swivels, soft joints, moving from the tan t’ien, the bubbling spring, and other details of movement. These parts were defined by other teachers based on observation, and they are still subject to revision by yet other teachers and observers.

Not everyone has a natural talent to move like Nijinski, yet everyone that sees him dance can hold his movements in mind and attempt to come close to that kind of divine fluidity for themselves. They can learn that movement to a degree, but how? Teachers attempt to break these complex fluid movements into movement principles, and then smaller movements and other piece parts. This leads the student to some notion of “logical” steps. Some teachers cover you up in words, others in examples, and some in both.

However, it is the student’s job to magically reassemble everything into one graceful fluid movement. Most students do not get that far. But the ones that stick with it begin to suspect that these pieces are mere constructs pointing to a larger whole that they occasionally experience.

So too with TCC. We introduce pieces and parts, and then help students refine parts and explore alternatives. But it is still the student’s job to magically reintegrate all of the ideas and lessons into one smooth flowing TCC practice. At that point of magical reassembly, you start to glimpse an even bigger whole.

The whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. The parts are human inventions to try and explain the whole. The universe doesn’t know from piece parts.

Take salt, comprised of sodium and chlorine. Sodium is a highly reactive gray-white metal that will burst into flame if exposed to water. Chlorine is a green-yellow gas that is highly corrosive. Eating or breathing either leads to death. Yet salt — the combination of sodium and chlorine — is necessary for life. The whole is far greater and magically different than the sum of its parts.

Almost anything you master you first learn as parts. The parts depend on your teacher. Then somehow you smoosh them together holistically into something that is greater and different than the sum of the parts.

Words fail when trying to explain the holistic experience. That’s why we do what we do and invite people to join. Justin said, “practice when you feel like it, and practice when you don’t feel like it.” Every time you practice or think about TCC you are forging a wholeness that will be your TCC.