holísticas

Holísticas is the feminine plural form of the adjective holistic (holístico/holística) used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe approaches, practices, or perspectives that consider the system as a whole rather than merely its individual parts. The term derives from the Greek holos, meaning "whole," and logos, meaning "study" or "recipe." In both languages, holísticas denotes a comprehensive view that emphasizes interconnections, context, and balance among different dimensions.

The concept finds application across several domains. In health and medicine, holísticas or holistic approaches seek to address physical, mental, emotional, social, and sometimes spiritual factors in diagnosis and treatment. In education, a holistic approach aims to develop multiple aspects of a learner—cognitive, social, emotional, and ethical—rather than focusing solely on academic outcomes. In environmental and organizational contexts, holísticas reflect systems thinking and integration across subsystems, stakeholders, and time horizons.

Principles commonly associated with holísticas include recognizing interdependencies, considering long-term outcomes, and prioritizing preventative or integrative strategies over reductionist methods. Critics argue that the term can be vague or subject to varying definitions, and that holistic claims should be supported by evidence, especially in healthcare, to avoid conflation with unverified or spiritual assertions.

See also: holistic, holistic health, holistic education, systems thinking.