“The fundamental ‘formula’ of Gestalt theory might be expressed in this way. There are wholes, the behaviour of which is not determined by that of their individual elements, but where the part-processes are themselves determined by the intrinsic nature of the whole. It is the hope of Gestalt theory to determine the nature of such wholes. With a formula such as this one might close, for Gestalt theory is neither more nor less than this.”

Max Wertheimer
Über Gestalttheorie [an address before the Kant Society, Berlin, ‘7th December, 1924], Erlangen, 1925