Dualistic

Dualistic is an adjective describing a position or approach that involves two fundamental kinds of substance, principle, or reality, or that divides phenomena into two opposed parts. The term derives from Latin roots meaning twofold or twofold nature.

In philosophy, dualism is the view that two kinds of substances or realities exist independently. The most famous example is mind–body dualism, which posits that the mind is nonphysical while the body is physical. Descartes popularized this distinction, though many philosophers favor physicalism or other forms of monism. Variants include property dualism, which holds that two kinds of properties exist, even if there is not a strict separation of substances. A central issue is how these distinct realms interact, a problem that has generated extensive critique and alternative theories.

In religious and spiritual contexts, dualism often refers to belief in two opposing cosmic forces, such as good and evil, sometimes personified in deities or principles. Historical systems include Manichaeism and certain interpretations within Zoroastrian and Gnostic thought. Some strands of spirituality articulate dualistic frameworks to explain the problem of evil or moral dichotomies, while other traditions emphasize nondual or nonbinary perspectives.

In everyday language, dualistic thinking describes a tendency to split concepts into binary opposites, such as true/false, right/wrong, or mind/body. Such dichotomous thinking can simplify complex issues but may overlook continuum and overlap.

Other uses of dualistic come in philosophy and cognitive science to describe two-valued or two-pronged frameworks and in cultural analysis to highlight persistent dualities such as self/other or nature/culture.