dualism
C1Formal / Academic
Definition
Meaning
The division of something into two opposed or contrasted aspects, such as mind and body, good and evil, or spiritual and material.
A system of thought or a philosophical doctrine that recognises two independent, often opposing, principles. In international relations, it can refer to a political system of two major powers.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in philosophy, religion, and social sciences. Implies a fundamental, often irreconcilable, opposition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Slight frequency variance based on academic discipline focus.
Connotations
Equally formal and academic in both variants.
Frequency
More common in US academic discourse related to philosophy of mind and political science.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the dualism between X and Ydualism of Xadhere to dualismargue for dualismVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Trapped in a dualism”
- “The classic dualism of...”
- “Bridge the dualism”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in high-level strategy discussions, e.g., 'the dualism of global and local operations.'
Academic
Central in philosophy, theology, political science, and gender studies.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound overly technical.
Technical
Specific in philosophy (mind-body problem), computer science (digital vs. analogue), and physics (wave-particle duality).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The theory dualises experience into subject and object.
- He dualised the problem into ethical and practical dimensions.
American English
- The framework dualizes the system into public and private spheres.
- She dualized her approach.
adverb
British English
- He conceived of it dualistically.
American English
- She argued dualistically.
adjective
British English
- A dualistic worldview
- The dualistic philosophy of Descartes.
American English
- A dualistic framework
- Dualistic thinking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The story presents a simple dualism between good and evil.
- The philosopher criticised the traditional dualism of mind and body.
- His argument rejects the dualism between nature and culture.
- Cartesian dualism posits an unbridgeable gap between res cogitans and res extensa.
- The geopolitical dualism of the Cold War era defined international relations for decades.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'DUO-alism' – a duo/two of something, like two conflicting principles.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE WORLD IS SPLIT / REALITY IS A BATTLEFIELD (between two forces).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'дуализм' if the context is simply a 'dichotomy' or 'binary opposition'. In Russian, 'дуализм' is highly specialised philosophical term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dualism' to mean simply 'two parts' without the essential opposition. Confusing it with 'duality' (which can imply two aspects without inherent conflict).
Practice
Quiz
Which field is 'dualism' LEAST likely to be used in?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Duality' refers to having two parts or aspects, which may be complementary. 'Dualism' specifically emphasises two opposed, independent, and often irreconcilable principles.
Primarily, yes. Its core use is in philosophy and religion. It can be applied metaphorically in other fields (e.g., 'political dualism'), but retains its formal, conceptual nature.
The main philosophical antonym is 'monism' (the view that reality consists of only one kind of substance or principle).
Not directly. The adjective form is 'dualistic' (e.g., 'a dualistic theory').
Collections
Part of a collection
Philosophical Vocabulary
C2 · 44 words · Technical terms used in academic philosophy.