dualism
- 01 C1 Advanced
the belief that the mind and the body are two separate things that exist independently.
the philosophical theory that the mental and the physical are distinct and separable substances or properties.
Simple“Descartes is famous for his dualism, arguing that the soul is different from the physical body.”
In context“The debate over consciousness often centers on whether one accepts a form of dualism or a purely physicalist view of the brain.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
the religious or moral belief that the world is a struggle between two opposite forces, like good and evil.
the religious or ethical doctrine that the universe is governed by two antagonistic principles, typically light and dark or good and evil.
Simple“Many ancient religions were based on a dualism between a god of light and a god of darkness.”
In context“The narrative relies on a moral dualism that leaves little room for the complexity of human motivation.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
the idea that international laws and a country's own laws are separate systems.
the legal doctrine stating that international law and domestic law operate in separate spheres and that the former must be incorporated into the latter to be effective.
Simple“Under the principle of dualism, the treaty does not apply in our courts until parliament passes a new law.”
In context“The country's adherence to legal dualism meant that international human rights standards were not directly enforceable in local jurisdictions.”
UsageOften contrasted with 'monism' in legal theory.
Antonymsmonism - 04 C2 Proficiency
an old theory that all chemical compounds are made of two parts with opposite charges.
the obsolete chemical theory that all compounds consist of two distinct constituents with opposite electrical affinities.
Simple“Early scientists used dualism to explain how different elements combined to form salts.”
In context“Berzelius's electrochemical dualism was eventually superseded by more sophisticated models of chemical bonding.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is historical; modern chemistry students will only encounter it when studying the development of the field.
From dual + -ism.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.