Atheism, Monism and Dualism

[rojse]

Are there any atheists on here who subscribe to a dualist worldview, as opposed to a monist worldview?

Monism means that the universe is completely explainable through physical interactions of matter and energy.

Dualism means that there is a physical aspect to the universe, and a non-physical aspect to the universe.

Bonus Question - does the mental processes that lead to the acceptance of atheism also result in the acceptance of monism as a valid world-view?

 

[BucephalusBB]

I personally think there is a possibillity there is more than just our "matter and energy" but think that whatever there is out there is just as explainable and possible to calculate, we just haven't found it yet.
Does it make that monism?

 

[rojse]

I personally think there is a possibillity there is more than just our "matter and energy" but think that whatever there is out there is just as explainable and possible to calculate, we just haven't found it yet.
Does it make that monism?

Interesting question. Honestly, I don't know enough about monism and dualism apart from a fairly basic understanding, but I would presume that because you believe that anything outside of our physical world could be both explained and modelled in some manner, that it would be a monist perspective on life, but I would like for someone more learned than myself on this subject to correct me if I am wrong.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Are there any atheists on here who subscribe to a dualist worldview, as opposed to a monist worldview?

Monism means that the universe is completely explainable through physical interactions of matter and energy.

Dualism means that there is a physical aspect to the universe, and a non-physical aspect to the universe.

Depends on your interpretation, I think. I believe that certain things have an importance that goes beyond the physical, but I don't believe that this is necessarily expressed mystically, cosmically, or anywhere outside my own mind.

Personally, I think I see concepts like monism and dualism in the reverse of their classical definitions: for example, the concept of a soul seems to me to be an idea that invokes a sort of physicality for that which is unseen, and is therefore a form of monism. I think that important things can exist without being physical in any sense at all (e.g. ideas, emotions, concepts), and therefore I would probably self-classify myself as a dualist, even though I realize that because I don't believe in the existence of any sort of non-physical realm, I'd probably be classified as a monist by others.

Bonus Question - does the mental processes that lead to the acceptance of atheism also result in the acceptance of monism as a valid world-view?

For some people it may, but I don't think it does for everyone. It would depend on how a person arrives at atheism, I would think.

 

[Willamena]

Personally, I think I see concepts like monism and dualism in the reverse of their classical definitions: for example, the concept of a soul seems to me to be an idea that invokes a sort of physicality for that which is unseen, and is therefore a form of monism. I think that important things can exist without being physical in any sense at all (e.g. ideas, emotions, concepts), and therefore I would probably self-classify myself as a dualist, even though I realize that because I don't believe in the existence of any sort of non-physical realm, I'd probably be classified as a monist by others.

Brilliant. I am in the same boat.

 

[3.14]

untill we know everything il remain sceptic on both views

 

[pwsoldier]

I lean more towards monism. Personally, I've always considered dualism to be more of an agnostic stance. That's just my opinion though.

 

[rojse]

I lean more towards monism. Personally, I've always considered dualism to be more of an agnostic stance. That's just my opinion though.

Interesting. How is dualism, the separation of the mind from the rest of the universe, agnostic compared to the view that everything in the universe works under some underlying physical laws?

 

[pwsoldier]

Interesting. How is dualism, the separation of the mind from the rest of the universe, agnostic compared to the view that everything in the universe works under some underlying physical laws?

The way I understand it, dualism leaves room for gap theories, whereas monism asserts that everything has an explanation within the physical realm. It seems to me that those who are unsure about the existence of supernatural or other non-physical realms might be more inclined to embrace dualism.

 

[Halcyon]

I think you have to be dualistic if you take the OP definition of the word, since spacetime is not physical, its not matter/energy.

If you take the dualism to be natural vs supernatural, then I suppose most would be monist in the sense that any phenomena we currently label as supernatural that do in fact exist would simply be natural phenomena that we do not yet understand, and as such are not anything "other" with regard to the natural universe.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

If you take the dualism to be natural vs supernatural, then I suppose most would be monist in the sense that any phenomena we currently label as supernatural that do in fact exist would simply be natural phenomena that we do not yet understand, and as such are not anything "other" with regard to the natural universe.

I agree. Personally, I don't think there can be anything that is truly supernatural. Anything labelled as such must either be:

- natural, but so far unknown or misunderstood, or
- non-existent.