Materialist
A materialist is someone who believes that the world around us is made of material, that there are no other types of thing. Everything is composed of material and things that are not made of material, such as consciousness, are the result of actions by material. In other words, matter is the only real substance. Physicalism is a related term.[1][2][3]
Especially, a materialist does not believe in gods or other supernatural entities. "Spiritual" matters are either secondary actions of material, or denied outright. The existence of a spirit is either meaningless, or not scientifically proven. Therefore, by definition, materialists are also atheists, though not all atheists are materialists.
Modern philosophical materialists extend the definition of other basic entities proven by science. such as energy, forces, and the curvature of space. Matter and energy are known to be interchangeable, and much else, such as gravity, is caused by matter. However, the concept of matter is itself not entirely clear.
Other types of philosophy share some of the aims of materialism. Examples would include reductionism, logical positivism and empiricism.
[change] References
- ↑ Vitzthum, Richard C. 1995. Materialism: an affirmative history and definition. Amhert, New York, Prometheus Books.
- ↑ Lange, Friedrich A. 1925. The history of materialism. New York, Harcourt, Brace.
- ↑ Eliminative Materialism
