Materialism
Materialism
Materialism (pronunciation: /məˈtɪərɪəˌlɪzəm/) is a philosophical theory that asserts that matter and physical phenomena are the only reality and that all occurrences, including consciousness, thoughts, and emotions, can be explained in terms of material interactions.
Etymology
The term "materialism" originates from the Latin word "materia," meaning "substance" or "material," and the suffix "-ism," which denotes a system of belief or ideology. The term was first used in the 17th century to describe a philosophical viewpoint that prioritizes the physical world over the spiritual or supernatural.
Related Terms
- Physicalism: A form of philosophical materialism that holds that all that exists is no more extensive than its physical properties.
- Dualism: A contrasting viewpoint to materialism, asserting that reality consists of two fundamental types of substance or reality: physical (material) and mental (spiritual).
- Idealism: A philosophical theory that contrasts with materialism by asserting that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual in nature.
- Monism: A philosophical position that asserts that there is only one kind of substance or reality, which can be either material (materialistic monism) or spiritual (idealistic monism).
- Reductionism: A philosophical position closely related to materialism, which holds that complex systems can be understood by reducing them to their components.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Materialism
- Wikipedia's article - Materialism
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