physicalism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist/Academic)Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “physicalism” mean?
The philosophical doctrine that everything that exists is ultimately physical or supervenes upon the physical.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The philosophical doctrine that everything that exists is ultimately physical or supervenes upon the physical.
In philosophy of mind, the view that mental states are entirely physical in nature. In metaphysics, the belief that all facts, including those about consciousness and meaning, are determined by physical facts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is standard in Anglophone academic philosophy globally.
Connotations
Neutral academic term. In public discourse, it may sometimes be mistakenly conflated with a focus on bodily fitness or a rejection of the spiritual, but within academia it is a precise technical term.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of philosophical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “physicalism” in a Sentence
[Subject] argues for/against physicalism.Physicalism holds/claims/entails that...The debate between physicalism and dualism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “physicalism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The philosopher sought to physicalise mental phenomena.
- They argued that consciousness could be physicalised.
American English
- The theory attempts to physicalize subjective experience.
- He physicalized the concept of intention in his model.
adverb
British English
- He argued physicalistically about the nature of pain.
- The process was described in purely physicalist terms.
American English
- She interprets the data physicalistically.
- The system is conceived physicalistically.
adjective
British English
- Her physicalist commitments were clear from the paper.
- A physicalist ontology underpins the theory.
American English
- The physicalist stance is dominant in contemporary analytic philosophy.
- He offered a physicalist explanation for qualia.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in metaphysics and philosophy of mind. Used in journal articles, theses, and seminars.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific to philosophical discourse. May appear in related fields like cognitive science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “physicalism”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “physicalism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “physicalism”
- Using 'physicalism' to mean a focus on sports or the body (that's 'physicality').
- Confusing it with 'physicism' (not a standard term).
- Spelling: 'physicalis*m*' not 'physicalis*n*'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very closely related and often used interchangeably in contemporary philosophy. However, 'physicalism' is often preferred as it is based on the modern concept of 'the physical' from physics, which is broader than classical 'matter'.
Yes. Physicalists argue that consciousness is a physical process, typically arising from the complex functioning of the brain. They deny that consciousness requires non-physical substance.
The most famous challenge is the 'knowledge argument' (e.g., Mary's room) and the 'hard problem of consciousness', which question how subjective, qualitative experience can arise from purely physical processes.
It is a core technical term in analytic philosophy, specifically in the sub-fields of metaphysics and philosophy of mind. It also appears in discussions in the foundations of cognitive science.
The philosophical doctrine that everything that exists is ultimately physical or supervenes upon the physical.
Physicalism is usually formal, academic in register.
Physicalism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl.ɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl.ɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PHYSICAL-ism' – it insists that the **physical** world is all there is.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE WORLD IS A MACHINE; THE MIND IS THE BRAIN.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common synonym or closely related term to 'physicalism'?