Monism (Agnosticism)

by David Turell , Thursday, January 03, 2013, 01:18 (4344 days ago) @ romansh


>rom; For example a pantheist might be considered a monist in that the universe, its contents and god are one. Panentheists, deists and theists might be considered dualists in that they consider god somehow separate from the universe.-My definition of panentheism is that God is both within and without the universe and literally contains the universe. I think you can find definitions like this. I consider myself a panentheist based on that definition. What I really think is God is a universal intelligence. One cannot explain the information the universe and life run on, especially the coding of life without bringing an intelligent mind into play.
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> rom: Similarly a monist thinks that mind and matter are one. (The purpose of this definition I consider matter as energy as one 'physical' concept). So for a monist it would be difficult to believe in free will. -I view energy as having or containing mind, but matter is a different form of energy.
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> rom: Now I happen to think monism is a better description of the universe than either dualism or pluralism. Though I don't buy into whole heartedly into the monisms we find in wikipedia. (idealism, neutral, physical/material). 
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> When science looks at the world it takes on a pragmatic pluralistic stance (I think) while recognizing underneath the world is monistic in nature.
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> Thoughts?-I don't know which science starts with your definition of monism. I get all tangled up in these philosophic terms. I know what I think, and I have expressed that the basic idea that the universe is energy that comes in different forms, as matter and as mind. Therefore I guess I am a monist in your sense. We have discussed free will and I know I feel like I have it. The underlying neurophysiologic processes are all built to give me that impression and I am happy enough with that.