Neutral monism

Neutral monism is a subset of the much larger group of philosophies collectively referred to as monism. Monism includes any philosophy asserting that the entirety of the universe is bound by a sense of “oneness.” Most sects of monism argue that the entirety of the reality experienced by humans can be broken down into a single thing that binds it together. Some subsets consider that base element a deity, while different adherents consider it a single set of scientific rules. Still others consider the base element to be the smallest physical particles.

Many types of monism see the binding element of reality as either physical or mental. For them, reality is bound together in a physical, determinable way. Others conceive reality as bound together by a purely mental concept or experience. Neutral monism attempts to find a middle ground by asserting the base element of reality is neutral in nature. They agree with one or more of five specific views, each of which argues that the nature of reality cannot be solely physical or solely mental. Some proponents of neutral monism argue that the basis of the experience of reality is both physical and mental, while others argue that it is uniquely neither. However, proponents of neutral monism often disagree upon the nature of that base element. Some argue that it is a mysterious and unknowable substance, while others assert that it is a form of divinity.

Background

Monism refers to any philosophy that attributes “oneness.” Because this definition is broad, many different philosophies fall under the banner of monism. They are differentiated by the target at which they attribute oneness, and the method by which they define oneness. For example, many varieties of monism disagree about the method by which all of reality is one. Some argue that monism is correct in the theological sense, with all of reality being traced back to the divine. Others argue that because all of reality is defined by a single set of laws, all things that exists within reality are interconnected.

Several varieties of monism have been both influential and historically significant. Priority monism argues that all things in existence can be traced back to a single source that is distinct from those things. Idealistic monism argues that the entirety of the world is contained within the mind. It argues that any existence external to the mind is either part of a greater mental existence or an illusion created by the mind. According to idealistic monism, all existence that humans can experience is one single reality created by the mind of the person that perceives it or created by the mind of a divine being.

Materialistic monism argues that because reality is solely comprised of matter, all reality is the same. It does not differentiate between whether that matter is atoms, cosmic substances, or some other exotic, undiscovered material. Its proponents argue that because the external world can be entirely broken down into physical components, and because the mind exists within the physical world, that the physical world is all that truly exists. Any mental world is either a subset of the physical world or an illusion.

Materialistic monism is often broken down into two subdoctrinesreductive and non-reductive physicalism. Reductive physicalism argues all mental states are inherently physiological processes and will eventually be explained by science. Non-reductive physicalism argues mental states and physical states are related, but that mental states cannot be entirely reduced to physical science.

Overview

Neutral monism is a monistic philosophy concerned with finding a middle ground between solely physical monism and solely mental monism. It argues that a single basic element is responsible for the entirety of reality. However, it also knowledges that reality presents both physical characteristics and mental characteristics. Neutral monists assert that the basic element is neither physical nor mental, instead belonging to some other category. For this reason, they argue that the basic element is neutral.

Neutral monism is comprised of five distinct viewpoints. Many philosophers that espouse neutral monism only support some of the five viewpoints. Each of these viewpoints makes an argument in favor of the basic entity that makes up the universe being neutral.

The first, the neither view, states that the basic entity that makes up reality is neutral because it is neither wholly mental nor wholly physical. The constituent view argues that the basic entity is neutral because both physical and mental non-basic entities were created from it. The possible constituent view argues that the basic entity is neutral because it is possible for both physical and mental non-basic entities to be created from it. The law view argues that the basic entity is neutral because it is subject to both physical and mental laws. Finally, the both view argues that the basic entity is neutral because it is innately both physical and mental.

These views are sometimes grouped by the method they interact with the basic element that makes up reality. The neither view and the both view define the neutrality of this element by its intrinsic nature. Proving such a view in any physical sense would require that the basic nature of reality be unveiled. However, the other views define the neutrality of this element by its relationship to other elements. These viewpoints are significantly easier to establish and support.

Neutral monism is not always concerned with the specific identity of the basic element that makes up reality. Some proponents of neutral monism have argued that it is a mysterious, unknowable substance. Others have simply viewed the basic element as nature itself. Still others believe that the basic element of existence is some form of deity. They are primarily concerned that the element itself, and thus the nature of reality itself, is neither wholly mental nor wholly physical. Historic proponents of neutral monism include Baruch Spinoza, David Hume, and Bertrand Russell.

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