Atomism

Atomism is a philosophy that considers things and ideas as understandable through reductive analysis into distinct, separable, and independent elementary components. Much of the scientific method (at least prior to quantum physics) is, in essence, atomistic or reductive.

Because the atoms or elements can be 'extracted' or isolated in a system, there is a prevalent belief that all that is necessary to reconstruct a meaningful or functioning system is to (re)combine those elements into a more efficient mens of production.

An agricultural example of atomistic thinking

Atomistic thinking is well illustrated in industrial farming practices, in which

• The soil is tilled,
• Weeds are killed with herbicides and other chemical defoliants,
• NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) fertilizer is applied to the soil before or during
• The planting of a single species of seed (such as corn or soy-beans), often genetically altered to adapt to these growing conditions.
• The crop is mechanically irrigated, when enough rain doesn't fall to sustain growth.
• Insects and other pests are killed with pesticides.
• Mechanical harvesting is followed by tillage.

And so the cycle repeats. Similar processes can be observed in the production of animal milk and protein, forestry etc.

The advantage of such systems is that they are very mechanically "scalable" and so more "efficient" than other more traditional practices.

The disadvantage is that these processes tend towards depleted soils, nutrient-poor, inhumane, food production in which the farmers are locked into the production of generic commodities which are sold into relatively undifferentiated markets where they are price-takers, not price-makers.