nonmaterialism

Nonmaterialism is a family of philosophical positions that reject the view that reality is exhaustively composed of matter. Proponents argue that there are nonmaterial aspects of reality—such as minds, consciousness, abstract entities, or spiritual principles—that cannot be fully explained in physical terms alone.

Two broad strands are commonly identified. Dualism holds that there exist nonmaterial substances or properties that are distinct from the physical world, typically positing mind and body as separate substances or as distinct kinds of reality. Idealism contends that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual, with physical objects either dependent on or reducible to mental processes or experiences.

Historically nonmaterialist ideas appear in various traditions. In the modern era, Descartes argued for mind–body dualism; Berkeley defended a form of idealism in which perception constitutes reality. Earlier, Plato's theory of forms and various theological positions treated nonmaterial realities such as souls, forms, or God as foundational.

In contemporary philosophy of mind, nonmaterialist options include property dualism, neutral monism, and various forms of idealism. These positions address consciousness, personal identity, and the status of abstract truths, often in conversation with scientific theories of the brain.

Nonmaterialist theories face criticisms from physicalists who emphasize continuity with neuroscience and empirical methods. Proponents respond with arguments about explanatory gaps, subjectivity, and the alleged nonphysical causal efficacy of mental states.