Perception of the whole

"The many become one and are increased by one." (ANW)

Seeing the world in terms of a whole is an important part of the process philosophy. One way of understanding is a figure/ground. The figure is in the foreground and the ground is in the background. Looking at gestalt (meaning whole) psychology as a companion mode of thinking we see that the figures we perceive as being separate from the ground do not need to be perceived that way. Like a wave is part of the water it arises from, a figure is part of the ground but a part that is in focus (has our attention), has a sense of unity (see last entry) and yet remains part of/in contact/in relationship with its environment. The relationship is unity.

Seen this way all actualities are in relationship and there is no way of moving out of relationship. We are always in contact -- changing, being changed, exchanging experience, forming new societies and engaging novelty.