monism

IPA/ˈmɒnɪzəm/
KK[mˈɑnɪzəm]IPA/ˈmɑːnɪzəm/

monism — noun

1. the philosophical idea that everything in the universe, including mind and matte

1.名詞C1
釋義

the philosophical idea that everything in the universe, including mind and matter, can be reduced to a single kind of reality or fundamental principle

例句

Spinoza is widely regarded as the most influential defender of monism in Western philosophy.

Yara struggled to understand how monism differs from dualism in her first metaphysics lecture.

monism vs. dualism — contrasting philosophical positions

同義詞
  • non-dualism

    often used interchangeably in Eastern and comparative philosophy, though non-dualism more precisely denies the separation of two realms rather than asserting one substance

  • absolute idealism

    a specific form of monism (associated with Hegel and Bradley) that holds reality is a single spiritual whole; narrower than monism in general

反義詞
  • dualism

    the view that reality consists of two fundamentally different kinds of substance (e.g. mind and matter)

  • pluralism

    the view that reality consists of many kinds of substance or principle

用法筆記

This is the dominant sense in academic and philosophical writing. The 'single substance' may be matter (materialism), mind (idealism), or something metaphysically neutral such as Spinoza's God-or-Nature. Commonly contrasted with 'dualism' (two substances) and 'pluralism' (many substances).

常見錯誤

❌Monism means that everything is made of the same stuff.
✅Monism is the philosophical view that all of reality is ultimately one kind of substance or principle.
💡The popular paraphrase is not wrong in spirit, but in academic writing 'monism' refers to a specific metaphysical claim, not a general observation about material composition.

2. the view that only one supreme being exists, typically held within a religious o

2.名詞C2
釋義

the view that only one supreme being exists, typically held within a religious or theological system

例句

The professor explained that early Israelite religion evolved from polytheism toward a strict monism.

Abigail compared the monism of Islam's tawhid with the triune God of Christian doctrine.

monism + of [religion/sect] + compared with

同義詞
  • monotheism

    far more common; 'monotheism' refers specifically to organized religions that worship one God, while 'monism' in this sense is a broader philosophical stance rather than a doctrinal label

反義詞

用法筆記

Rare outside theological discussions of comparative religion and ancient belief systems. The everyday word for 'belief in one God' is 'monotheism'; 'monism' in this sense is largely confined to academic scholarship on early or non-Western religions.

常見錯誤

❌Monism is the central belief of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
✅Monotheism is the central belief of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
💡'Monotheism' is the standard term for belief in one God; 'monism' in the religious sense is very rare and mostly a historical or comparative-religion term.