monism
Meaning: The philosophical view that reality is fundamentally composed of one substance or principle, in contrast to dualism which posits two.
Monism comes in several varieties: materialist monism holds that everything is ultimately physical matter; idealist monism holds that everything is ultimately mental or spiritual; neutral monism proposes that mind and matter are both aspects of a single underlying substance. Spinoza is the most celebrated monist philosopher, arguing that God and nature are identical. In contemporary philosophy, physicalism — the view that everything is physical — is the most common form of monism.
Examples
- Spinoza's monism identified God with nature, arguing that there is only one infinite substance. 斯宾诺莎的一元论将上帝与自然等同起来,认为只存在一种无限的实体。El monismo de Spinoza identificaba a Dios con la naturaleza, argumentando que solo existe una sustancia infinita.スピノザの一元論は神と自然を同一視し、無限の実体は一つしかないと論じました。스피노자의 일원론은 신과 자연을 동일시하며, 무한한 실체는 오직 하나뿐이라고 주장하였다.
- Materialist monism holds that mental states are nothing more than physical processes in the brain. 唯物一元论认为心理状态不过是大脑中的物理过程。El monismo materialista sostiene que los estados mentales no son más que procesos físicos del cerebro.唯物論的一元論は、精神状態は脳の物理的過程にすぎないと主張します。유물론적 일원론은 정신 상태란 뇌의 물리적 과정에 지나지 않는다고 주장한다.
- The appeal of monism lies in its simplicity — explaining everything through a single fundamental principle. 一元论的吸引力在于其简洁性——通过单一的基本原则来解释一切。El atractivo del monismo radica en su simplicidad: explicar todo mediante un único principio fundamental.一元論の魅力はその単純さにあります——すべてを一つの根本原理で説明するということです。일원론의 매력은 그 단순함에 있다—모든 것을 하나의 근본 원리로 설명한다는 점이다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Greek monos (single, alone) with the suffix -ism. Coined by the German philosopher Christian Wolff in the 18th century to contrast with dualism.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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