J. C. Smuts: The Formation and Development of Holism

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ABSTRACT J. C. Smuts, twice Prime Minister of South Africa, and the most celebrated champion of the British Empire in the first half of the twentieth century, was a staunch defender of European values, and instrumental in the drafting of the League of Nations Charter; the establishment of the Commonwealth, and United Nations. His self-understanding was of a life lived to bring about conciliation and international cooperation, consistent with the principles of a philosophy he termed Holism. The concept of Holism is the fundamental presupposition of Smuts’ philosophy, what he calls ‘a new basic concept’, which is innate to the universe and is the inner volition of everything within it in the creation of wholes. It is the source of all explanation. In locating the source, Smuts believed, we have at least somewhat abated mystery. Central to the conception of Holism is the idea of creative evolution, distinguished both from naturalism and idealism. The aim of this article is critically to demonstrate how Smuts developed his philosophy, which had similar aims to those of Alexander and Whitehead, yet was developed independently of them. The principles of Holism informed his conduct in international relations, but were largely absent from his resolution of problems in domestic politics. This article also briefly discusses the popular and academic reception of Holism and Evolution.