physicalist

physicalist — noun

1. a person who believes that mental states — such as emotions, ideas, and decision

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person who believes that mental states — such as emotions, ideas, and decisions — are entirely caused by physical processes in the brain and body, rejecting the idea of a non-material mind or soul

例句

Adina, a physicalist, argued that fear is chemical signals running through the nervous system.

a physicalist + verb of belief (argued that...)

The panel asked a physicalist and a dualist to debate whether consciousness needs a body.

同義詞
  • materialist

    Similar meaning but classically emphasises matter rather than all physical phenomena (energy, fields, etc.)

  • naturalist

    Broader term; rejects supernatural causes but may accept non-physical natural properties

反義詞
  • dualist

    Believes mind and body are separate substances

  • idealist

    Holds that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual

文法句型

a physicalist + verb of belief (argue, hold, maintain)

the physicalist + noun (view, position, perspective)

用法筆記

Frequently contrasted with dualist when discussing the philosophy of mind. The term implies a rejection of any non-physical explanation for mental phenomena.

常見錯誤

❌Einstein was a physicalist who studied particles.
✅Einstein was a physicist who studied particles.
💡Physicalist is a philosophical position; physicist is a scientist who studies physics.

2. a person who supports the philosophical thesis that all facts about the universe

2.名詞C1
釋義

a person who supports the philosophical thesis that all facts about the universe — from the laws of nature to the structure of living organisms — can be explained by the methods and principles of physics and chemistry

例句

Professor Ndlovu, a physicalist, argues that evolution follows the laws of chemistry and physics.

a physicalist + verb of argument (argues that...)

For physicalists, the origin of the universe is a natural event that follows physical laws.

for physicalists (introducing a broad claim of the school)

同義詞
  • materialist

    Historically similar, though materialism predates modern physics and may not include energy or fields

反義詞

文法句型

according to physicalists

physicalists + verb of claim (assert, maintain, reject)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense covers the broader metaphysical claim that everything (not just the mind) is physical. Sense 2 applies in metaphysical debates about the fundamental nature of reality, where the question is whether all entities and events — including laws of nature, biological processes, and abstract objects — fall within the domain of physical science.

常見錯誤

❌A physicalist thinks that only matter, not energy, is real.
✅A physicalist thinks that everything, including energy and fields, is part of the physical world.
💡Physicalism covers all physical phenomena, not just matter.