Definition

Noun: 1. A philosophical or theological doctrine that posits the existence of two fundamental, irreducible, and often opposing principles or realities. This most commonly refers to the distinction between mind and body (or spirit and matter) or between good and evil. 2. The state or quality of being dual or having a twofold nature.

Usage

• Philosophical/Conceptual Context: Used to describe systems of thought that divide the world into two fundamental categories.
• General Context: Can describe any situation or system characterized by a sharp division into two contrasting parts.

Examples

• Philosophical Context:
  • Cartesian dualism argues for a strict separation between the thinking mind and the physical body.
  • The ancient religion was based on a dualism of light and darkness.
• General Context:
  • The political debate revealed a deep dualism in the country's values.
  • There is a dualism in her personality; she is both fiercely independent and deeply caring.

Advanced Usage

• "Mind-body dualism": A specific philosophical position, most famously associated with René Descartes, that the mind and body are distinct and separable substances.
  • The problem of consciousness is often framed within the debate over mind-body dualism.
• "Metaphysical dualism": A broader category of dualism that posits two ultimate kinds of reality (e.g., physical and non-physical).
  • Plato's theory of Forms is a form of metaphysical dualism.

Variants and Related Words

• Dual (adj): Consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects.
  • The dual nature of the proposal made it controversial.
• Dualist (n): A person who believes in or advocates dualism.
  • As a dualist, she rejected purely materialistic explanations of thought.
• Dualistic (adj): Relating to or characterized by dualism.
  • His worldview is highly dualistic, seeing conflict between spirit and flesh everywhere.

Synonyms

• Dichotomy: A division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
• Binary opposition: A pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning.

Antonyms

• Monism: The doctrine that reality is ultimately composed of one single substance or principle (e.g., only matter or only mind).
• Holism: The theory that parts of a whole are intimately interconnected and cannot be understood independently of the whole.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A dualistic worldview": A perspective that interprets reality through the lens of two opposing forces or principles.
  • The conflict in the story stems from the characters' dualistic worldview of good versus evil.

Noun

1. the doctrine that reality consists of two basic opposing elements, often taken to be mind and matter (or mind and body), or good and evil