When is the whole less than the sum of its parts?

@SW-User In what way?

@SW-User The whole of our existence is meaningless and serves no purpose, but the individualistic experience is so hightened to the point it could feel meaningful.

@SW-User So the individual experience could be greater then?

@SW-User Depends on what you measure greatness with; it's more fulfilling, more validating of our existence.

@SW-User One example is an organism. The entire organism, functioning and alive, is considered to be more that the sum of its parts. It becomes greater when all components are working together.

@SW-User I get that, I'm talking about the human experience from more of a philosophical perspective, not a physical one.

Collectivism ruins our chances to reach anything with a fulfilling meaning, useful, yes, but not meaningful, and that to me is "greater" if you will than measuring greatness by how physically effective something is.

@SW-User Oh, oops. I just realized I replied to the wrong person. That's what happens when I multi-task lol. Disregard previous reply.

@SW-User Haha, that's okay. :)

@SW-User I think there are multiple angles you can take on this. Are we talking about society vs. the individual? I think my responses would be different, depending on which "machine" we are referring to.

@SW-User There are. It also depends on what the desired end results are, and whom do they benefit. If it's productivity then society as a collective would be more important. I'm just personally not one for crowds, everything I said is a personal opinion.