Physicalism

In philosophy (metaphysics), physicalism is the position that everything is physical, that there is nothing over and above the physical, and that everything supervenes on the physical. It stands in direct opposition to idealism, which asserts that reality arises from mind—a position that is incoherent under physicalism, since mind is itself a physical process of the brain and therefore cannot be foundational to the physical world it depends on. Physicalism is a form of ontological monism—a single-substance account of the nature of reality, as against the empirically unsupported positions of mind–body dualism and pluralism. Physicalism is closely related to naturalism, though important distinctions exist between them.

Physicalism is closely related to materialism, and has evolved from materialism with advancements in the physical sciences in explaining observed phenomena. The terms "physicalism" and "materialism" are often used interchangeably, but can be distinguished on the basis that physics describes more than just matter. Physicalism encompasses matter, but also energy, physical laws, space, time, spacetime, exotic matter, structure, physical processes, information, state, and forces, among other things, as described by physics and other sciences.

According to a 2020 survey, physicalism is the majority view among philosophers, at 51.9%, but there is also significant opposition to it.

Outside philosophy, physicalism can refer to the preference or viewpoint that physics is the best or only way to render truth about the world or reality.