The terms ‘monism’ and ‘dualism’ are two philosophical terms. Basically, these are the two Schools of Thought in Philosophy.
Peace of mind has become a new issue in the present. In a human body, the mind and body is a newly emerging issue in the study of neurophilosophy.
The relationship between the mind and the body is very important.
The two Schools of Thought in Philosophy has emerged as to distinguish and solve the problems whether the mind, body, and soul equally exist and co-relate with each other or whether it is separated from each other.
Hence, the two Schools of Thought in Philosophy i.e Monism and Dualism have emerged to solve the problems.
Monism vs Dualism
The difference between Monism and Dualism is that Monism is the ultimate belief is that the mind and the body are the same elements and are generated from a supreme soul. Whereas, Dualism believes that the mind and the works separate from each other and it is said that an individual is not generated from a supreme soul but the existence of an individual depends upon the supreme soul.
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Monism refers to the ultimate belief that an individual has one single type of nature that is the mind and the body is connected to interlinked with each other.
Monism believes that after an individual’s death the soul gets connected with the Supreme soul. It truly believes in the existence of the Supreme soul.
On the other hand, Dualism beliefs that an individual has dual or two types of nature, that is the mind and the body are two different and distinct parts from each other and it does not believe in the generation of the supreme soul
but it believes its existence depends upon the supreme soul.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Monism | Dualism |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Monism refers to the ultimate faith that an individual’s mind and body are equal and it is generated from a supreme soul and the mind and the body are connected with each other. | Dualism refers to the ultimate faith that the mind and the body of an individual are two separate things and can be differentiated. |
| Belief | Monism’s ultimate belief is that the mind and the body as a single unit. | Dualism’s ultimate belief is that the mind and the bodies are two separate things and it is not a single unit. |
| Nature | Monism believes that only one type of nature exists. | Dualism believes that an individual has a dual nature. |
| Existential View | Monism’s existential view is that all humans subsist as one and have equal capabilities. | Dualism’s existential view is that an individual’s existence is separate and distinct. |
| Religions | Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, etc believe in Monism. | Christianity, Judaism, etc. |
| Representative Intellect | Heraclitus, George Berkeley, etc. | Aristotle, Rene Descartes, etc. |
What is Monism?
Monism is a philosophical concept. Monism refers that its ultimate faith is that a human body and mind are equal and the soul is generated from a supreme soul, and after death, the individual’s soul gets connected to the supreme soul.
According, to monism life, is nothing but the connection between an individual and the supreme soul. It is also said that the supreme soul connects the body and mind with each other.
The supreme soul is very powerful and pure. In monism, it is believed that the individual’s mind and body are equally powerful as the supreme power.
According to Monism, the whole universe except the supreme power and supreme soul are not real and hence, it is hallucination or imaginary.
There are some particular religions that believe in the concept of Monism, like Hinduism. Buddhism, Atheism, etc.
What is Dualism?
Dualism is also a philosophical concept. Dualism refers that its ultimate faith is that an individual’s mind and body are two separate things that are not connected with each other.
The mind and body are not termed as single units. Dualism does not believe that an individual is generated from a supreme soul but, it believes that the existence of an individual is somehow connected to the supreme soul.
According to Dualism, the individual souls are week and powerless in front of the supreme soul. Dualism believes that the external world and its co-existing things are real and not hallucinations.
Some regions that believe in the concept of Dualism are Christianity, Judaism, etc.
Main Difference Between Monism and Dualism
- Monism refers to the ultimate faith that an individual’s mind and body are equal and it is generated from a supreme soul and the mind and the body are connected with each other. On the other hand, Dualism refers to the ultimate faith that the mind and the body of an individual are two separate things and can be differentiated.
- Monism’s ultimate belief is that the mind and the body as a single unit. On the other hand, Dualism’s ultimate belief is that the mind and the bodies are two separate things and it is not a single unit.
- Monism believes that only one type of nature exists. On the other hand, Dualism believes that an individual has a dual nature.
- Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, etc believe in Monism. On the other hand, religions such as Christianity, Judaism, etc.
- Heraclitus, George Berkeley, etc. are some representative intellects of Monism. On the other hand, Aristotle, Rene Descartes, etc. are some representative intellects of Dualism.
- https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/byrint17§ion=9
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/medical-history/article/vital-principle-of-paul-joseph-barthez-the-clash-between-monism-and-dualism/396D0342A1BD066E17888BD4A9102080
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
