Monism (Noun)
Meaning
The doctrine that reality consists of a single basic substance or element.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The philosopher's monism posited that the universe was composed of a single, unified substance that underlay all existence.
- In ancient Greece, the concept of monism was explored by philosophers such as Thales, who believed that water was the fundamental element of reality.
- The monism of Spinoza's philosophy held that God and nature were one and the same, a single substance with infinite attributes.
- The idea of monism has been influential in the development of various philosophical and spiritual traditions, including certain forms of Buddhism and Hinduism.
- Materialism is a form of monism that asserts that the only fundamental substance is matter, and that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical processes.