Monism \Mon"ism\ (m[o^]n"[i^]z'm or m[=o]"n[i^]z'm), n. [From
Gr. mo`nos single.]
1. (Metaph.) That doctrine which refers all phenomena to a
single ultimate constituent or agent; -- the opposite of
dualism.
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Note: The doctrine has been held in three generic forms:
matter and its phenomena have been explained as a
modification of mind, involving an idealistic monism;
or mind has been explained by and resolved into matter,
giving a materialistic monism; or, thirdly, matter,
mind, and their phenomena have been held to be
manifestations or modifications of some one substance,
like the substance of Spinoza, or a supposed unknown
something of some evolutionists, which is capable of an
objective and subjective aspect.
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2. (Biol.) See Monogenesis, 1.
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3. The doctrine that the universe is an organized unitary
being or total self-inclusive structure.
Monism means that the whole of reality, i.e.,
everything that is, constitutes one inseparable and
indivisible entirety. Monism accordingly is a
unitary conception of the world. It always bears in
mind that our words are abstracts representing parts
or features of the One and All, and not separate
existences. Not only are matter and mind, soul and
body, abstracts, but also such scientific terms as
atoms and molecules, and also religious terms such
as God and world. --Paul Carus.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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Monogenesis \Mon`o*gen"e*sis\, n. [Mono- + genesis.]
1. Oneness of origin; esp. (Biol.), development of all beings
in the universe from a single cell; -- opposed to
polygenesis. Called also monism. --Dana. --Haeckel.
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2. (Biol.) That form of reproduction which requires but one
parent, as in reproduction by fission or in the formation
of buds, etc., which drop off and form new individuals;
asexual reproduction. --Haeckel.
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3. (Biol.) The direct development of an embryo, without
metamorphosis, into an organism similar to the parent
organism; -- opposed to metagenesis. --E. van Beneden.
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