Sunergia

Sunergia is a term derived from the Greek sunérgia, from sun- “together” and érgo “work,” literally meaning “working together.” In philosophy and theology the word is used to describe cooperative action among multiple agents toward a common end.

In Christian theology, sunergia is often used to denote the cooperation between divine grace and human freedom in the process of salvation. It is typically contrasted with monergism, the view that grace operates independently of human cooperation. In many Catholic and Orthodox discussions the term emphasizes that grace enables rather than imposes, and that human assent or cooperation is real and necessary within a grace-filled dynamic.

Beyond theology, sunergia is used in general philosophy and organizational discourse to signify any causal interaction in which the effect arises from the combined action of several factors. In modern Greek, sunergía simply means cooperation or teamwork, a usage that reflects its etymology rather than a specific doctrinal sense. English-language discussion tends to render the term as synergism or cooperation in grace matters. Definitions and emphasis vary by tradition, and the term is more common in theological discussions than in secular philosophy. See also synergy, synergism, and monergism.