monism

noun

mo·​nism ˈmō-ˌni-zəm  ˈmä- 

1

a

: a view that there is only one kind of ultimate substance

b

: the view that reality is one unitary organic whole with no independent parts

2

: monogenesis

3

: a viewpoint or theory that reduces all phenomena to one principle

monist

ˈmō-nist 

ˈmä-

noun

monistic

mō-ˈni-stik 

mä-

adjective

Examples of monism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, in Stalin’s communism, monism took the form of believing that the key is to establish a classless society — even if millions of people had to be killed to achieve that vision. —Sigal Samuel, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

But monism was declared a heresy, first by the medieval Church and second, in Päs’s telling, by physicist Niels Bohr. —Amy Brady, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2022

Even those religions such as Neo-paganism and Hinduism which adhere to a monism which collapses the distinction between human and non-human operationally do seem to privilege the human perspective. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2011

If only physics would embrace monism, its deepest mysteries would yield to that magic number. —Amy Brady, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

German Monismus, from mon- + -ismus -ism

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for monism

• tectonism