Organicism

Philosophy
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Organicism is the view that society or the universe is like a living organism, where parts are interconnected and function for the whole. It emphasizes unity and integration.

Detailed Definition
In literature, organicism suggests that a poem is like a living thing, where form and content are inseparable. The poet doesn't impose external form but grows it from within. This idea, often associated with Romanticism, values wholeness and internal harmony. Poetry is seen as an organic entity, where each part is necessary to the whole, mirroring the unity of nature and human experience.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poem by William Wordsworth is often read as an example of organicism, where the form and content grow from the experience itself; The idea that a poem is "a living thing" and not a mechanical construction is central to organicism; The philosophy of Coleridge, who believed that a poem's form should evolve from its content, is a key statement of organicism; Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" can be seen as an organic poem, expanding and contracting like a living organism.
Additional Notes
Organicism is a philosophical and literary theory that views the universe, society, or a work of art as a living, unified organism, in which the parts are interconnected and function for the good of the whole. It contrasts with a mechanistic, atomistic worldview. In literature, organicism is often associated with the Romantic poets, particularly Coleridge, who argued that a poem's form should evolve organically from its content, not be imposed by rigid rules. A truly organic poem is one where form and meaning are inseparable, like a living being. This concept values wholeness, integration, and the idea that art, like nature, is a vital, growing entity. For poets, it encourages a holistic approach to writing, where every part of the poem is necessary and contributes to its life.
Also Known As
Organic unity Holism Integrative form
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