dualism

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Religion Academic

n. the religious or moral belief that the world is a struggle between two opposite forces, like good and evil.

n. the religious or ethical doctrine that the universe is governed by two antagonistic principles, typically light and dark or good and evil.

“Many ancient religions were based on a dualism between a god of light and a god of darkness.”

“The narrative relies on a moral dualism that leaves little room for the complexity of human motivation.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Law Technical · Formal

n. the idea that international laws and a country's own laws are separate systems.

n. 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.

“Under the principle of dualism, the treaty does not apply in our courts until parliament passes a new law.”

“The country's adherence to legal dualism meant that international human rights standards were not directly enforceable in local jurisdictions.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Archaic · Technical

n. an old theory that all chemical compounds are made of two parts with opposite charges.

n. the obsolete chemical theory that all compounds consist of two distinct constituents with opposite electrical affinities.

“Early scientists used dualism to explain how different elements combined to form salts.”

“Berzelius's electrochemical dualism was eventually superseded by more sophisticated models of chemical bonding.”