"The constructive process inheres in all forms of synergy,
and the cooperation of antithetical forces in nature always results in making,
that is, in creating something that did not exist before. But in the organic
world this character of structure becomes the leading feature, and we have
synthetic products consisting of tissues and organs serving definite purposes,
which we call functions."
"[...] there is a universal principle, operating in every department of nature and at every stage of evolution, which is conservative, creative and constructive. [...] I have at last fixed upon the word synergy, as the term best adapted to express its twofold character of ‘energy’ and ‘mutuality’ or the systematic and organic ‘working together’ of the antithetical forces of nature. [...] Synergy is a synthesis of work, or synthetic work, and this is what is everywhere taking place. It may be said to begin with the primary atomic collision in which mass, motion, time, and space are involved, and to find its simplest expression in the formula for force, which implies a plurality of elements, and signifies an interaction of these elements." (Lester F Ward, "Pure Sociology", 1903)
"This compromise among the contending forces of nature was effected through organization and the formation of chemical systems, which are so many reservoirs of power, this power being represented by what we call the properties of matter. These systems store up energy and expend it in work, but the work is always a collaboration or cooperation of all the competing forces involved. It is synergy."
"Social equilibration under the principle of social synergy,
while it involves a perpetual and vigorous struggle among the antagonistic social
forces, still works out social structures and conserves them, and these
structures perform their prescribed functions. Upon the perfection of these
structures and the consequent success with which they perform their functions
depends the degree of social efficiency. In the organic world the struggle has
the appearance of a struggle for existence. The weaker species go to the wall
and the stronger persist. There is a constant elimination of the defective and
survival of the fittest. On the social plane it is the same, and weak races
succumb in the struggle while strong races persist. But in both cases it is the
best structures that survive."
"Social structures are the products of social synergy, i.e., of the interaction of different social forces, all of which, in and of themselves, are destructive, but whose combined effect, mutually checking, constraining, and equilibrating one another, is to produce structures. The entire drift is toward economy, conservatism, and the prevention of waste. Social structures are mechanisms for the production of results, and the results cannot be secured without them. They are reservoirs of power."
"The true nature of the universal principle of synergy pervading all nature and creating all the different kinds of structure that we observe to exist, must now be made clearer. Primarily and essentially it is a process of equilibration, i.e., the several forces are first brought into a state of partial equilibrium. It begins in collision, conflict, antagonism, and opposition, and then we have the milder phases of antithesis, competition, and interaction, passing next into a modus vivendi, or compromise, and ending in collaboration and cooperation." (James Q Dealey & Lester F Ward, "A Text-book of Sociology", 1905)
"Synergy is the principle that explains all organization and
creates all structures. The products of cosmic synergy are found in all fields
of phenomena. Celestial structures are worlds and world systems; chemical
structures are atoms, molecules, and substances; biotic structures are
protoplasm, cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. There are also psychic
structures - feelings, emotions, passions, volitions, perceptions, cognitions,
memory, imagination, reason, thought, and all the acts of consciousness. And
then there are social structures […]. These are the products of the social
forces acting under the principle of social synergy."
"[...] synergy is the consequence of the energy expended in creating order. It is locked up in the viable system created, be it an organism or a social system. It is at the level of the system. It is not discernible at the level of the system. It is not discernible at the level of the system’s components. Whenever the system is dismembered to examine its components, this binding energy dissipates." (J-C Spender, "Organizational Knowledge, Collective Practice and Penrose Rents", 1999)
[synergy:] "Measure describing how one agent or system increases the satisfaction of other agents or systems." (Carlos Gershenson, "Design and Control of Self-organizing Systems", 2007)
"To develop a Control, the designer should find aspect systems, subsystems, or constraints that will prevent the negative interferences between elements (friction) and promote positive interferences (synergy). In other words, the designer should search for ways of minimizing frictions that will result in maximization of the global satisfaction" (Carlos Gershenson, "Design and Control of Self-organizing Systems", 2007)
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