the doctrine that the person consists of only a single substance, or that there is no crucial difference between mental and physical events or properties
Compare dualism (sense 2), See also materialism (sense 2), idealism (sense 3)
2. philosophy
the doctrine that reality consists of an unchanging whole in which change is mere illusion
Compare pluralism (sense 5)
3.
the epistemological theory that the object and datum of consciousness are identical
4.
the attempt to explain anything in terms of one principle only
Derived forms
monist (ˈmonist)
noun, adjective
monistic (moˈnistic) or monistical (moˈnistical)
adjective
monistically (moˈnistically)
adverb
Word origin
C19: from Greek monos single + -ism
monism in American English
(ˈmɑnɪzəm, ˈmounɪzəm)
noun
1. Philosophy(in metaphysics)
a. (in metaphysics)
any of various theories holding that there is only one basic substance or principle as the ground of reality, or that reality consists of a singleelement
a theory that the object and datum of cognition are identical
Compare "> pluralism (sense 1b)
2.
the reduction of all processes, structures, concepts, etc., to a single governing principle; the theoretical explanation of everything in terms of one principle
3.
the conception that there is one causal factor in history; the notion of a single element as primary determinant of behavior, social action, or institutional relations