In the history of human thought the term dualism has several meanings. It is used in various areas of life: psychology, philosophy, religion, etc. In the general sense, this is a doctrine that recognizes two opposite, non-identical beginnings, polarities.
What is dualism?
In a broad sense, dualism is the coexistence of two different principles, worldviews , aspirations and other areas of life. The term originated from the Latin word dualis - "dual", was first used in the 16th century and related to the religious opposition of good and evil. Satan and the Lord, with dualistic views of the world, were declared equal and eternal. The main principle of dualism is applicable not only to religion, it consists in admitting the existence of two fundamental opposites. They have the following features:
- flow from one area;
- intersect;
- affect each other,
- Do not change the structure.
Dualism in Philosophy
Dualism in philosophy is a fundamental phenomenon based on the concept of the duality of all elements. In the understanding of people or according to physical laws, everything in the world has the opposite. Philosophy was the first science that saw "duality" in various fields. Prerequisites for the emergence of this theory can be considered the definition of Plato's two worlds - reality and ideas. Followers of the ancient thinker called their "opposites":
- R. Descartes was one of the most famous followers of the dualistic position. Being he divided into thinking and extended matter.
- The German scientist H. Wolf described the dualists as people admitting the existence of two substances: material and spiritual.
- His follower M. Mendelssohn called the physical essence and the spiritual.
Dualism in religion
Religion clearly defines the existence of two equal principles, pervading everything. The evil spirit constantly competes with God, and they are equal in rights. Religious dualism can be traced in both ancient religions and traditional beliefs:
- Zoroastrianism of Ancient Persia - the religion of free moral choice;
- the Chinese doctrine of Yin and Yang ;
- Christianity (confrontation of the Devil and the Lord);
- some heretical currents;
- Judaism with its belief in demonic entities;
- Islamic view of the world as a "house of God" and "home of war", etc.
Dualism - Psychology
For centuries, the science of psychology is considering the interaction of the psyche of man and his body. Disputes do not cease today. Therefore, dualism is a constant in psychology. The doctrine is built on the opposition of consciousness and the brain, existing independently, and contrasted with monism - the idea of the unity of the soul and body. Descartes' theory of two equal substances gave rise to the theory of psychophysical parallelism and the development of psychology as an independent science.
Dualism - Socionics
In the twentieth century, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung introduced the concept of "mental functions" into psychology. These are characteristics of individual processes, which, depending on the type of personality, prevail in a person. Jung's dualism is that every individuality, especially creative, is a duality-the synthesis of paradoxical properties, but the following features-functions prevail depending on the nature:
- thinking;
- feeling;
- sensation;
- intuition.
In the psychiatrist's teachings, the principles of "duality" are interpreted in an interesting way, and the concept of personality types derived from them is called socionics. The scientific current considers the concept of "dual relations", in which both partners are carriers of complementary types of personality. This can be marriage, friendships and other relationships. One dual is psychologically compatible with the other, their relationship is ideal.
Dualism - "for" and "against"
Like any teaching, dualism has its followers and opponents who do not accept and refute this theory, especially from the point of view of human nature. In defense are given ideas about the soul, which, after the death of the body, experiences everything in the world. Also, arguments in favor of the theory may be the irreducibility of certain elements and phenomena that can only be explained by the supernatural character of the human mind. Criticism of dualism is justified by the following:
- Simplicity of the question posed and judgments about the spirit and body. Materialists believe only in what they see.
- Lack of explanation and proof.
- Nervous dependence of mental abilities on the work of the brain.
To understand the world, it is normal to have several different positions, even diametrically opposite. But the recognition of the duality of certain things in the universe is reasonable. Two halves of one nature - good and evil, man and woman, mind and matter, light and darkness - are part of the whole. They do not oppose, but counterbalance and complement each other.