Explain the fundamental differences in these three metaphysical theories: monism, materialism and idealism.?

Question by Vitaliy: Explain the fundamental differences in these three metaphysical theories: monism, materialism and idealism.?

Best answer:

Answer by Yaoi Shonen-ai
Monism is the metaphysical and theological view that all is one, that there are no fundamental divisions, and a unified set of laws underlie nature. …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism

Monism is a philosophical term which, in its various meanings, is opposed to Dualism or Pluralism. Wherever pluralistic philosophy distinguishes a multiplicity of things, Monism denies that the manifoldness is real, and holds that the apparently many are phases, or phenomena, of a one. Wherever dualistic philosophy distinguishes between body and soul, matter and spirit, object and subject, matter and force, the system which denies such a distinction, reduces one term of the antithesis to the other, or merges both in a higher unity, is called Monism.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10483a.htm

Materialism is a general view about what actually exists. Put bluntly, the view is just this: Everything that actually exists is material, or physical. Many philosophers and scientists now use the terms `material’ and `physical’ interchangeably (for a version of physicalism distinct from materialism, see physicalism). Characterized in this way, as a doctrine about what exists, materialism is an ontological, or a metaphysical, view; it is not just an epistemological view about how we know or just a semantic view about the meaning of terms.

Materialism versus Dualism……………..
http://philosophy.uwaterloo.ca/MindDict/materialism.html

Idealism in life is the characteristic of those who regard the ideas of truth and right, goodness and beauty, as standards and directive forces. This signification betrays the influence of Plato, who made idea a technical term in philosophy. According to him the visible world is simply a copy of a supersensible, intelligible, ideal world, and consequently “things” are but the impress stamped on reality by that which is of a higher, spiritual nature.

Platonism is the oldest form of idealism, and Plato himself the progenitor of idealists. It is usual to place in contrast Plato’s idealism and Aristotle’s realism;
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07634a.htm

Several different references have not drawn comparisons between your 3 choices. Two references draw distinctions between monism and “Dualism or Pluralism.”

Essentially non of your 3 choices is even related. It seems that your prof would have ask you to define 3 related terms, instead of 3 unrelated ones.

Give your answer to this question below!