Physicalism (Noun)
Meaning
(philosophy) the philosophical theory that matter is the only reality.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Physicalism is often seen as a form of materialism, which holds that the only substance or reality is matter.
- The philosopher's argument for physicalism was based on the idea that consciousness can be reduced to purely physical processes in the brain.
- Critics of physicalism argue that it fails to account for the subjective nature of conscious experience.
- Physicalism is often contrasted with dualism, which posits the existence of a non-physical realm of mind or spirit.
- The rise of modern science and the success of physical explanations for natural phenomena have led many philosophers to adopt physicalism as a metaphysical framework.