Psychology: Gestalt v. Stucturalism

Is the whole better than the sum of its parts? Is it better to perceive something by its parts or as a whole?

This binary can be further analyzed through the comparison of two types of thinking: (1) the west (and law school), and (2) the east.

Western history has chronicled the western man's affinity to compartmentalize and analyze facts. Consider how Darwin meticulously examined individual characteristics of certain species. As westerners, we are more interested in the specific facts than the whole picture. I think the pervasive individuality across society is in part attributable to this type of component, fact-based thinking. We are so focused on ourselves that we struggle to grasp the understanding of the whole.

Easterners, on the other hand, naturally see the whole. They are less interested in the factual items or the components that comprise the whole. Easterners generally have a stronger group identity within the society than westerners.

So what. Well, is one better than another? More effective? I think the only way to answer that question is on a case-by-case basis. Like everything in the world, it's relative.

Although recent announcements in the physics world call that theory into question.