Materialism is one of the major trends in philosophy, according to which matter is recognized as the only reality, and everything that exists, including
consciousness, thoughts, feelings, and the soul, is reduced to material properties and processes.
Materialism asserts that:
- There is nothing but matter. The universe consists only of matter, and all the phenomena of the surrounding reality are simply different forms of its manifestation.
- Consciousness is a product of matter. A person's thoughts, feelings and sensations are the result of the brain, which is itself a material organ.
- The soul is an illusion, because in the traditional understanding the soul has an immaterial nature. It cannot be seen or touched. Death means the cessation of the existence of the material body.
- The world is subject to the laws of nature. Everything in the world, including man, is governed by natural laws that can be studied and learned.
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Since it was not possible to bring together all the existing views of scientists on materialism and its nature in a single slender concept, an attempt was made to divide the philosophy of materialism into several directions. The main varieties of this current in philosophy are:
- Atomism. A philosophical doctrine stating that everything is made up of indivisible particles - atoms.
- Mechanistic materialism. According to the fundamental positions of this type of materialism, the world is like a machine. All processes in it are strictly determined by certain preconditions and the action of specific factors. They can be explained in terms of mechanics.
- Dialectical materialism. This current of materialism developed within the framework of Marxist philosophy. In accordance with its canons, dialectical materialism asserts that the world is dynamic, it is constantly transforming, changing, developing. During these processes, sometimes contradictory phenomena arise. Unlike the world, matter has dialectical properties.
- Emergent materialism. This variety of materialism recognizes the existence of qualitatively new phenomena that appear at higher levels of organization of matter. One of the typical levels of organization of matter is considered to be consciousness. But at the same time, supporters of emergent materialism argue that all phenomena of the surrounding reality are caused by material processes.
- Physicalism. Within this direction of materialism, researchers argue that all phenomena, including mental phenomena, can be explained with the help of physical laws.
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While materialism has close ties to science, especially physics and biology, it is also a philosophical doctrine. It offers a view of the world, of human nature, of
the meaning of life and death.
Basic principles of materialism
The philosophy of materialism is based on the following principles:
- The principle of the priority position of matter in the system of knowledge about the world. Matter is the primary reality, and consciousness and spirit are secondary. They are considered by materialist scientists as products of material processes.
- The principle of the unity of matter and the laws of nature. The whole world, including man, consists of matter and is subject to the laws of nature.
- The principle of reductionism. Complex phenomena can be reduced to simpler, elementary material processes. This makes them easier to understand and study.
- The principle of naturalism. All phenomena, including mental phenomena, are subject to natural laws.
- The principle of determinism. All events in the world are predetermined by material causes and laws.
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Materialism has had a significant impact on the development of science, philosophy, culture, and social structure.
The concept of materialism
In philosophy, materialism has created a solid foundation for the development of many sciences: physics and biology, which are based on the firm belief that the world has a material nature, so it is studyable. In addition, with the help of materialism it was possible to prove the commonality of the laws of nature in its different spheres, which indicates the material unity of the world.
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Materialism has had a significant influence on the development of ethical systems based on material values and political ideas aimed at creating a just society. This is the sociocultural significance of materialism for science and society.
Materialism contributes to the formation of the worldview of the younger generation. It forms a view of the world as material and natural, subject to laws, which affects people's behavior and their attitude to the world around them.
But at the same time, materialism cannot be considered the only competent approach to the study of objects and phenomena of the surrounding world. The proponents of materialism believed that it is impossible to study the soul, god or other abstract entities, because they do not have a material nature.
Materialism cannot fully explain the nature of consciousness, its subjective character and free will. Reducing all phenomena to material processes can lead to simplification and loss of important nuances.
Материализм - это сложная философская концепция, которая имеет разные трактовки и вариации, а разные виды материализма могут иметь разные взгляды на детали, но все они основываются на том, что материя является основой всего сущего.
The assertion that all events are predetermined contradicts the ideas of personal responsibility and the existence of each person's own willpower. That is why in the scientific literature devoted to philosophical aspects and their detailed analysis, one can find vivid criticisms of the materialists' approach to the cognition of the world.
The philosophy of materialism, despite criticism, continues to actively develop and influence modern society. It provides a basis for the scientific study of the world and offers answers to fundamental questions about the nature of reality, man and his role
in the universe.