Spiritual_Wellness_Holistic_Health_and_the_Practic

CHAPTER
6
THE HOLISTIC
PHILOSOPHY AND
PERSPECTIVE OF SELECTED
HEALTH EDUCATORS
S TEPHEN B. T HOMAS
Emergence of the holistic health movement has provided health educators an opportunity
to participate in the ideological struggle between philosophical viewpoints: the
concept of health and primary prevention versus problem - oriented health care.
Reflections upon the nature of the universe and the nature of humankind are also part
of this philosophical debate.
The philosophy of holism was formulated by Jan C. Smuts (1870 – 1950), prime
minister of South Africa (1919 – 1924; 1939 – 1948), in his only philosophical work,
Holism and Evolution (1926). Holistic concepts are not new to health educators; yet
the work of Smuts is obscure and not quoted in the professional literature of health
education. This lack established the need for research into the comparative relationship
between the holistic perspective of selected health educators and the philosophy
of holism as expressed by Jan C. Smuts. It is hoped this research will contribute to a
better understanding of the holistic world view and the concepts of wholeness within
health education.