monism
Quick Summary
Monism is a philosophical view that posits reality is composed of only one fundamental substance or principle. This contrasts with dualism, which acknowledges two irreducible principles, and pluralism, which involves more than two.12
There are several forms of monism:
* Materialism: The belief that reality is entirely material.3
* Idealism: Emphasizes the primacy of a single, ultimate reality, often conceptualized as the "One" or the Absolute, rather than multiple independent entities.4
* Neutral Monism: Suggests that reality consists of a fundamental substance that is neither inherently mental nor material, with mental and material aspects being manifestations of this neutral substrate.3
Theomonism is a specific type of monism that views a single divine spirit as governing the universe.5
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monotheismThe basic monotheistic view…synonymous with the philosophical term monism. The latter refers to the view that the universe has its origin in one basic principle (e.g., mind, matter) and that its structure is one unitary whole in accordance with this principle—that is, that there is only a single kind of reality. For monotheism…
Read More…synonymous with the philosophical term monism. The latter refers to the view that the universe has its origin in one basic principle (e.g., mind, matter) and that its structure is one unitary whole in accordance with this principle—that is, that there is only a single kind of reality. For monotheism…
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dualismNature and significance…as, in Western culture, the One and the many, or Idea and matter (or space, called by Plato “the receptacle”), and, in Indian culture, maya (the illusory world of sense experience and multiplicity) and atman-brahman (the essential identity of self and ultimate reality). Dialectical dualism ordinarily implies a cyclical, or…
Read More…as, in Western culture, the One and the many, or Idea and matter (or space, called by Plato “the receptacle”), and, in Indian culture, maya (the illusory world of sense experience and multiplicity) and atman-brahman (the essential identity of self and ultimate reality). Dialectical dualism ordinarily implies a cyclical, or…
Read More- theismTheism, pantheism, and monism
Theism sharply contrasts with pantheism, which identifies God with all that there is, and with various forms of monism, which regards all finite things as parts, modes, limitations, or appearances of some one ultimate Being, which is all that there is. Some types of…
Read MoreTheism sharply contrasts with pantheism, which identifies God with all that there is, and with various forms of monism, which regards all finite things as parts, modes, limitations, or appearances of some one ultimate Being, which is all that there is. Some types of…
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CartesianismLater philosophersHis metaphysics, which is simultaneously monistic, pantheistic, and deistic, holds that there is only one substance, that this one substance is God, and that God is the same as the world. The one substance has an infinite number of attributes, each of which expresses the totality of the world (or…
Read MoreHis metaphysics, which is simultaneously monistic, pantheistic, and deistic, holds that there is only one substance, that this one substance is God, and that God is the same as the world. The one substance has an infinite number of attributes, each of which expresses the totality of the world (or…
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Eleaticism…was distinguished by its radical monism—i.e., its doctrine of the One, according to which all that exists (or is really true) is a static plenum of Being as such, and nothing exists that stands either in contrast or in contradiction to Being. Thus, all differentiation, motion, and change must be…
Read More…was distinguished by its radical monism—i.e., its doctrine of the One, according to which all that exists (or is really true) is a static plenum of Being as such, and nothing exists that stands either in contrast or in contradiction to Being. Thus, all differentiation, motion, and change must be…
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Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelAt Heidelberg…system is thus a spiritual monism but a monism in which differentiation is essential. Only through an experience of difference can the identity of thought and the object of thought be achieved—an identity in which thinking attains the through-and-through intelligibility that is its goal. Thus, truth is known only because…
Read More…system is thus a spiritual monism but a monism in which differentiation is essential. Only through an experience of difference can the identity of thought and the object of thought be achieved—an identity in which thinking attains the through-and-through intelligibility that is its goal. Thus, truth is known only because…
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positivismOther issues…in a position called neutral monism, according to which both psychological and physical concepts are viewed as logical constructions on the basis of a neutral set of data of immediate experience. There are thus not two realities—the mental and the physical; there are merely different ways of organizing the experiential…
Read More…in a position called neutral monism, according to which both psychological and physical concepts are viewed as logical constructions on the basis of a neutral set of data of immediate experience. There are thus not two realities—the mental and the physical; there are merely different ways of organizing the experiential…
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pantheismMonism, dualism, or pluralismPhilosophies are monistic if they show a strong sense of the unity of the world, dualistic if they stress its twoness, and pluralistic if they stress its manyness. Pantheism is typically monistic, finding in the world’s unity a sense of the…
Read MorePhilosophies are monistic if they show a strong sense of the unity of the world, dualistic if they stress its twoness, and pluralistic if they stress its manyness. Pantheism is typically monistic, finding in the world’s unity a sense of the…
Read More- pantheismMonism and panpsychism
It is impossible for one to leave the 19th century without mention of the pioneering experimental psychologist Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801–87), founder of psychophysics, who developed an interest in philosophy. Fechner pursued the themes of panentheism beyond the positions of his predecessors.…
Read MoreIt is impossible for one to leave the 19th century without mention of the pioneering experimental psychologist Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801–87), founder of psychophysics, who developed an interest in philosophy. Fechner pursued the themes of panentheism beyond the positions of his predecessors.…
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Western philosophyMonistic cosmologiesThere is a consensus, dating back at least to the 4th century bce and continuing to the present, that the first Greek philosopher was Thales of Miletus (flourished 6th century bce). In Thales’ time the word philosopher (“lover of wisdom”) had not yet…
Read MoreThere is a consensus, dating back at least to the 4th century bce and continuing to the present, that the first Greek philosopher was Thales of Miletus (flourished 6th century bce). In Thales’ time the word philosopher (“lover of wisdom”) had not yet…
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theosophyBeliefs…displays a characteristic preference for monism (see pluralism and monism)—the view that reality is constituted of one principle or substance, such as mind or spirit. Although theosophists recognize the basic distinctions between the phenomenal world and a higher spiritual reality and between the human and the divine, which suggests dualism,…
Read More…displays a characteristic preference for monism (see pluralism and monism)—the view that reality is constituted of one principle or substance, such as mind or spirit. Although theosophists recognize the basic distinctions between the phenomenal world and a higher spiritual reality and between the human and the divine, which suggests dualism,…
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Indian philosophySignificance of Indian philosophies in the history of philosophy…reality leading to a radical monism (absolute nondualism, or the essential unity of matter and spirit). The Upanishads also contain early speculations by Indian philosophers about nature, life, mind, and the human body, as well as ethics and social philosophy. The classical, or orthodox, systems (darshanas) debate—sometimes with penetrating insight…
Read More…reality leading to a radical monism (absolute nondualism, or the essential unity of matter and spirit). The Upanishads also contain early speculations by Indian philosophers about nature, life, mind, and the human body, as well as ethics and social philosophy. The classical, or orthodox, systems (darshanas) debate—sometimes with penetrating insight…
Read More- Indian philosophy19th- and 20th-century philosophy in India and Pakistan
…bhakti cults than to traditional monism. He characterized the absolute as the supreme person and placed love higher than knowledge. In his Religion of Man, Tagore sought to give a philosophy of man in which human nature is characterized by a concept of surplus energy that finds expression in creative…
Read More…bhakti cults than to traditional monism. He characterized the absolute as the supreme person and placed love higher than knowledge. In his Religion of Man, Tagore sought to give a philosophy of man in which human nature is characterized by a concept of surplus energy that finds expression in creative…
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angel and demonCelestial and noncelestial forms: relationships of beliefs in angels and demons to views of the cosmos…cosmos may be viewed as monistic, as in Hinduism, in which the cosmos is regarded as wholly sacred or as participating in a single divine principle (brahman, or the Absolute). The cosmos may also be viewed as dualistic, as in gnosticism (an esoteric religious dualistic belief system, often regarded as…
Read More…cosmos may be viewed as monistic, as in Hinduism, in which the cosmos is regarded as wholly sacred or as participating in a single divine principle (brahman, or the Absolute). The cosmos may also be viewed as dualistic, as in gnosticism (an esoteric religious dualistic belief system, often regarded as…
Read More- angel and demonRelationship to views of a monistic cosmos
…view the cosmos as basically monistic—as in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism—generally have no belief in angels, who function mainly as revealers of the truth. This function is performed by other beings, such as avatars (incarnations of the gods) in Hinduism, Tirthankaras (saviours) in Jainism, or bodhisattvas (Buddhas-to-be) in Buddhism. Because
Read More…view the cosmos as basically monistic—as in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism—generally have no belief in angels, who function mainly as revealers of the truth. This function is performed by other beings, such as avatars (incarnations of the gods) in Hinduism, Tirthankaras (saviours) in Jainism, or bodhisattvas (Buddhas-to-be) in Buddhism. Because
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HinduismSectarian movementsA completely monistic school of Shaivism appeared in Kashmir in the early 9th century. Its doctrines differ from those of Shankara chiefly because it attributes personality to the absolute spirit, who is the god Shiva and not the impersonal brahman.
Read MoreA completely monistic school of Shaivism appeared in Kashmir in the early 9th century. Its doctrines differ from those of Shankara chiefly because it attributes personality to the absolute spirit, who is the god Shiva and not the impersonal brahman.
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- Abhinavagupta
monism. This school conceived of the god Shiva (the manifestation of ultimate reality), the individual soul, and the universe as essentially one; pratyabhijna refers to the way of realizing this identity. Abhinavagupta was a prolific writer on philosophy and aesthetics. Among his most notable philosophic…
Read Moremonism. This school conceived of the god Shiva (the manifestation of ultimate reality), the individual soul, and the universe as essentially one; pratyabhijna refers to the way of realizing this identity. Abhinavagupta was a prolific writer on philosophy and aesthetics. Among his most notable philosophic…
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RamanujaPhilosophy and influence…he admits that there is nonduality (advaita), an ultimate identity of the three orders, but this nonduality for him is asserted of God, who is modified (vishishta; literally “qualified”) by the orders of matter and soul; hence, his doctrine is known as Vishishtadvaita (“qualified nonduality”) as opposed to the unqualified…
Read More…he admits that there is nonduality (advaita), an ultimate identity of the three orders, but this nonduality for him is asserted of God, who is modified (vishishta; literally “qualified”) by the orders of matter and soul; hence, his doctrine is known as Vishishtadvaita (“qualified nonduality”) as opposed to the unqualified…
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Rainer Maria RilkeDuino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus…speaks out for an emphatic monism of the “cosmic inner space,” gathering life and death, earth and space, and all dimensions of time into one all-encompassing unity. This Rilkean myth is articulated in an image-laden cosmology that, analogous to medieval models, sees all of reality—from animal to “angel”—as a hierarchical…
Read More…speaks out for an emphatic monism of the “cosmic inner space,” gathering life and death, earth and space, and all dimensions of time into one all-encompassing unity. This Rilkean myth is articulated in an image-laden cosmology that, analogous to medieval models, sees all of reality—from animal to “angel”—as a hierarchical…
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