Definition
Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of material interactions. In modern science, it is often equated with Physicalism, the view that everything that exists is no more extensive than its physical properties.
Why It Matters
The philosophy of materialism asserts that all phenomena are the result of physical interactions; adopting this view is the foundation of the scientific method, as it directs our attention toward observable, testable, and replicable causes.
Core Concepts
- Mind-Body Identity: The claim that the mind is what the brain does. Mental processes are identical to physical processes in the central nervous system.
- Reductive Materialism: The view that complex systems can be completely explained by breaking them down into their simplest material parts (e.g., biology reduced to chemistry, chemistry to physics).
- Eliminative Materialism: The more radical claim that “folk psychology” concepts like “belief” or “desire” do not exist and will eventually be replaced by purely neuroscientific descriptions.
- Causal Closure of the Physical: The principle that every physical event has a physical cause, leaving no room for “non-physical” interventions (like a soul or vital spark).