Synergy

Synergy ( Greek συνεργία “cooperation, assistance, assistance, complicity, complicity” from other Greek σύν “together” + ἔργον “work, labor, work, (voz) action”) - enhancing the effect of the interaction of two or more factors, characterized by the fact that the combined effect of these factors significantly exceeds the simple sum of the actions of each of these factors, emergence ^[1] .

For example:

the combination (synergism) of two or more pieces of radioactive material , exceeding the critical mass , gives an energy release that exceeds the simple summation of the energy radiation of each of the individual pieces;
the knowledge and efforts of several people can be organized in such a way that they mutually reinforce;
the profit after the merger of the two companies may exceed the sum of the profits of these companies before the merger.

Content

Synergy in Religion

In Orthodoxy , Catholicism and many other Christian denominations, synergy is understood as the joint effort of man and God in the cause of achievement and salvation , the interaction of human freedom and Grace. Macarius the Great explains the synergy of God and man in this process with the following example: “Although the baby is powerless to do anything himself and cannot walk up to his mother on his feet, he, looking for his mother, moves, screams and cries. And mother takes pity on him; she is glad that the child with such effort and scream is looking for her. And since the baby cannot come to her, the mother herself, overcome by love for the baby, for his long search, comes up to him and takes, caresses and feeds him with great tenderness. The man-loving God does the same with the soul that comes and seeks Him ” ^[2] . In accordance with the Orthodox teaching, life itself is created in the synergy of the free will of man and Grace , and both forces play a creative role, but God creates a new person, the will only creates the necessary conditions for this ^[2] .

Synergy in the Natural Sciences

Synergy and the antagonism opposite to it in biology (physiology) are understood as reactions of movement and homeostasis , manifested as solidarity or fragmentation of the functioning of organs (for example, muscles of synergists and antagonists) and / or systems in achieving maximum effort of movement or regulated translational coordinated movement (fixation).
Under synergism in developmental biology, systemogenesis according to the material carrier and functions distinguish: primary systemogenesis - synergenesis; somatogenesis is a complex intercellular interaction and homeostasis (physiology, biochemistry); morphogenesis - the level of cell and tissue growth and morphogenesis.
Synergy in medicine refers to the combined effect of drugs on the body, in which the combined effect exceeds the effect exerted by each component individually .

Notes

↑ Zhilin D.M. Systems Theory. - M .: URSS , 2004 .-- S. 183.
↑ ¹ ² Cit. by: Grace // Orthodox Encyclopedia

Literature

Berseneva T.P. Synergy in Culture: Monograph. - Omsk: Siberian state. University Culture and Sports, 2014. - ISBN 978-5-91930-031-1 .
Berseneva T.P. Synergy: essential characteristics and forms of manifestation // Historical, philosophical, political and legal sciences, cultural studies and art history. Questions of theory and practice of Tambov: Gramota, 2016. No. 2 (64). C. 48-52. ISSN 1997-292X

[1] Zhilin D.M. Systems Theory. - M .: URSS , 2004 .-- S. 183.

[pravenc-2] ¹ ² Cit. by: Grace // Orthodox Encyclopedia