Monism Philosophy - Research Paper Example

Monism Monism is a philosophy that is focused on the concept that the whole is more important that the parts, which can also be stated as a unity of concept which is prioritized above all others (Schaffer “Monism: The Priority of the Whole” 31-76). Monism presents an absolution that the whole is more important that its parts. There are many types of monism that constitute the main philosophy of oneness but the main types include existence monism. Existence or materialistic monism is focused on the concrete objects that are counted by tokens. It follows the main formula which depends on the target and the unit. Monism is the opposing concept of pluralisms and nihilisms, because these concepts are focused on the importance of plurality in the nature of things (Scaffer “Monism”). The objective of the paper is to present a perspective on materialistic monism, one of the main types of the concept. Due to the numerous types of monism, one can surmise that any individual can have one of his or her own but the pressing question is which one is the most applicable to be used and to be prioritized. Materialistic monism is the feasible paradigm that can justify the interrelatedness of entities in nature. Supporting Evidences of Monism There are different concepts in the historical and contemporary knowledge that can be used to support the connection between natural phenomena and materialistic monism. One of the main evidences in that of the biological realism specifically the manner by which the brain works. The human body is one of the examples of entity in nature. Monism explores the manner by which different entities exist as one. It can be translated that the different matters are composed of similar units. The human body as that of nature is composed of units that can be considered related to every other component of matters and entities in nature. But the most important point in terms of monism in relation to the brain is the process by which it works. There is a dilemma in the analysis of the process of the brain. According to the dualists, the physical process of the brain is different from the process of the mind which can be considered as an elevated one. On the other hand, the monists believe in one reality, that is the oneness of the physical attribute of the brain and that of the elevated processes of the mind. In this scenario, it is needed to be pointed out that the process of the mind cannot be separated from that of the brain, thus, the functions of the organ can be perceived in the holistic sense (Fingelkurts, Fingelkurts & Neves 264-68). Another evidence in relation to monism is related to the blobject, which is a concept related to the oneness of the matters in the universe. It defines the concept of materialistic monism (Scaffer “Monism”). Materialistic monism had been defined as God and nature. It is the law of substance as presented by William James (Worthen, Ellis & Kinkead-Weekes 179). Based on Spinoza’s work entitled Ethics – “Except God, no substance can be or be conceived” – which means that the entities in nature just transform through reorganization of components and not made. In addition, at a particular point, the components cannot be divided anymore but can only be defined as part of a whole (Bachli & Petrus 65). These concepts can be considered as the main evidences in the thesis of the interrelatedness of entities in nature, both living and non-living matters. According to the basic view in environmental science by Earnst Haeckel, he advocated the monism in nature which was defined as the unity in the mind and body. The main examples are the living matter and their basic components which if analyzed are also similar as that of the non-living things in the surroundings. Basically, the main point of the proposition regarding monism is the fact that every natural occurrence can be attributed to and be supported by the principle of monism. Even the transfer of energy from one matter to another reflects the interrelatedness of entities in nature. The mere possibility of transferring energy from one entity to another is a clear representation of the similarity of the components of all matters in the universe. In the law of thermodynamics that state that energy cannot be created nor destroyed but transferred from one matter to another supports the relatedness of different organisms and matters in nature. Compatibility and relatedness can be translated as oneness (Allison 28). Criticisms on Monism There are also strong opposing groups on the concept of monism. Included in the groups contradicting the concept are the proponents of dualism and related views that believe in the variations and independence of entities in nature. Confusion in view is also a common error in the views of philosophers. One example is Descartes who is a monist. In his work he was able to give the definition of the divine substance monism or the presence of only one substance which is God. In his attempt to define and apply the term on other creatures, he created a pluralist definition. Such cases are common due to the lack of clear cut rules in defining the different types of concepts (Bachli & Petrus 66). In relation to nature on the other hand, the pluralist can rebut with a statement regarding the natural variations and niches. This means that if the entities in nature are related, what can be reason for the need to adapt. In addition, the concept of natural selection can be considered pointless and inapplicable. Based on the basic principles in ecology and nature, although organisms as well as the non-living entities are believed to have originated in a single ancestor and upon a single unified event in the universe, changes took place through time which resulted into the existence of very different entities. Although part of a whole or a single event, each component can be treated as one independent unit (Schwarz 136). The pluralist view had been defined on another perspective which is the random development of parts treated as independent wholes (Schaffer “Monism: The Priority of the Whole” 31-76). Analysis The argument of the pluralists or the critics of monists can be considered logical but simple rules and laws in nature can be considered as the most essential and stable evidences of the applicability of monism even in the modern era. The pluralist perspective can be considered as a chaotic, random and pattern-less development of wholes. One example is that of the development of organisms and entities in the world. This view can be considered narrow due to the fact that it provides a close yet limited view of the occurrence in nature. The development of different organisms and different entities in nature according to researches and accumulated knowledge should be viewed on a more holistic perspective. Monism can be considered as a holistic approach in the analysis of the different concepts. It can also be considered as a more organized view of the world. In addition, upon observation, no matter how random the events or the positions of matters in the universe, there is still a pattern. For that matter, monism can be considered as a pattern in nature tying every entity as one. With the said knowledge as the basic foundation, the different laws and rules established in nature make sense. This can be attributed to the fact that order, categorization and classification had been the main trend in the accumulation of knowledge through human history. With the view that every entity is connected, the process of classification e.g. taxonomy will make sense. Organisms sharing similar traits yet with certain variations can also be considered under monism. Basically, through monism, variations in nature can be viewed as differences in the expression or assimilation of the same materials, e.g. atoms or the smallest unit of an entity perceived. This oneness is the main defining element of the interrelatedness of the entities in nature as the basic rule in ecology and environmental science goes – every component and organism in nature are interconnected, thus, no matter how small the organism is, when its natural existence is interrupted, every other components of nature will feel the effect. The said view is monism applied to ecology. Conclusion Based on the presented arguments, it can then be noted that monism is the feasible paradigm that can justify the interrelatedness of entities in nature. Organisms and entities in nature follow particular arrangement and hierarchy based on their relationship with the surroundings and with other organisms. For that matter the interrelatedness in nature can be considered as the main evidence of the applicability of monism. Works Cited: Allison, Lincoln. Ecology and Utility: The Philosophical Dilemmas of Planetary Management. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1991. Bachli, Andreas and Klaus Petrus. Monism. Ontos Verlag, 2003. Fingelkurts, Andrew A., Alexander A. Fingelkurts and Carlos F.H. Neves. “Emergentist Monism, Biological realism, Operations and Brain-Mind Problem.” Physics of Life Reviews 7.2 (2010): 264-68. Veitch, John. Dualism and Monism and Other Essays. Kessinger Publishing, 2005. Schaffer, Jonathan. Monism. 19 Mar. 2007. Stanford Metaphysics Research Lab, CSLI. 3 Oct. 2011 ----. “Monism: The Priority of the Whole.” Philosophical Review 119.1 (2010): 31-76. Schwarz, Astrid. Ecology Revisited: Reflecting on Concepts, Advancing Science. Springer, 2011. Worthen, John, David Ellis, and Mark Kinkead-Weekes. D.H.Lawrence, Volume 3. Cambridge University Press, 1992. Read More