# dualism

/ˈduəˌɫɪzəm/ (US) · /djˈuːəlˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dualism
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. philosophy of mind and matter

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the belief that the mind and the body are two separate things that exist independently.

For teachers: the philosophical theory that the mental and the physical are distinct and separable substances or properties.

- Descartes is famous for his dualism, arguing that the soul is different from the physical body.
- The debate over consciousness often centers on whether one accepts a form of dualism or a purely physicalist view of the brain.

### 2. good versus evil

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. international law

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often contrasted with 'monism' in legal theory.

### 4. historical chemistry

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

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

For teachers: 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- Berzelius's electrochemical dualism was eventually superseded by more sophisticated models of chemical bonding.

Teaching tip: This sense is historical; modern chemistry students will only encounter it when studying the development of the field.

## Examples

- The book explores the dualism between good and evil in human nature.
- Many ancient religions are based on a strict dualism, teaching that the universe is a constant battleground between light and darkness.
- Cartesian dualism posits that the immaterial mind and the material body are fundamentally distinct substances, a framework that profoundly shaped early modern philosophy despite ongoing challenges from neuroscience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.