kokonaisuutta

Kokonaisuutta is the partitive singular form of the Finnish noun kokonaisuus, meaning totality, entirety, or unity. It denotes a thing considered as a complete whole, rather than as a mere sum of parts. The concept is central to holistic thinking, which emphasizes interrelations and emergent behavior within a system.

In grammar, kokonaisuutta is used when the whole is treated as a direct object or scope of action. It appears in phrases such as "tutkimuksen kokonaisuutta" (the totality of the study) or "kokonaisuutta tarkastellaan" (the whole is examined). It is contrasted with parts expressed by other cases or terms like "osat" (parts). In Finnish, the word also appears in compound terms such as "opintokokonaisuus" (a study module or curriculum component).

Usage spans philosophy, social sciences, design, and business. In philosophy and systems theory, kokonaisuus signals a holistic perspective that considers the interactions among components rather than isolated elements. In education, "opintokokonaisuus" denotes a coherent curricular unit. In architecture or product design, the term can describe an integrated aesthetic and functional whole.

Translations include totality, entirety, or unity, depending on context. See also holistic approach and holism for related concepts in Finnish and other languages.