What is dualism?
Q: What is dualism?
A: Dualism is the idea or theory that something (an object, an idea or the whole world) is split into two parts. These parts are separate from each other and cannot be divided up in any other way.
Q: What is monism?
A: Monism is the idea or theory that something cannot be split into any parts.
Q: What is pluralism?
A: Pluralism is the idea that something can be split into many parts.
Q: How does dualism relate to philosophy of mind?
A: In philosophy of mind, dualism means that the mind and body are two very different things; nothing part of the body can be part of the mind and vice versa. People like this sort of dualism because they think that the mind is too important or too strange to be part of the body.
Q: How does dualism relate to epistemology?
A: In epistemology, dualism means that there is a barrier between a person and their environment; this barrier splits reality into 'myself' and 'the world'. Each person can see, hear, taste, smell and touch their environment but cannot know it directly.
Q: What does non-dualistic thinking suggest about our relationship with our environment?
A: Non-dualistic thinking suggests that a person is just another part of their environment and there isn't a barrier between them; if somebody cannot see, hear, taste, touch or smell something then it doesn't affect them.
Q: How might we use dualistic thinking in everyday life?
A: We might use dualistic thinking in everyday life by saying things like "this thing is either hot or cold," "this thing is either good or bad," etc., without allowing for possible states in between.
