Scholars increasingly turn to paradox theory to unpack interwoven opposites. Addressing the complexity of these opposites requires understanding how such tensions surface across levels of analysis. Yet while scholars depict paradoxes as nested across levels, confusion about the nature of nestedness results in varied applications and outcomes. In this paper, we address this confusion. Drawing on the idea of a holon – an entity that is both a whole unto itself while also being a part of a broader whole – we depict nestedness as a paradoxical relationship between the whole and the part. Recognizing variance in this parts/whole paradox, we introduce an approach that distinguishes four idealized types of paradox nestedness and explore their different implications for navigating interdependent opposites. By unpacking nestedness, our approach invites greater nuance and complexity for future paradox scholars.
