The [[philosophy]] of '''materialism''' holds that the only thing that can be truly proven to [[existence|exist]] is [[matter]], and is considered a form of physicalism. Fundamentally, all [[things]] are composed of ''material'' and all [[phenomena]] (including [[consciousness]]) are the result of material interactions; therefore, [[matter]] is the only substance. As a theory, materialism belongs to the class of [[Monist|monist]] ontology. As such, it is different from ontological theories based on [[dualism]] or [[pluralism]]. For singular explanations of the phenomenal [[reality]], materialism would be in contrast to [[idealism]]. | The [[philosophy]] of '''materialism''' holds that the only thing that can be truly proven to [[existence|exist]] is [[matter]], and is considered a form of physicalism. Fundamentally, all [[things]] are composed of ''material'' and all [[phenomena]] (including [[consciousness]]) are the result of material interactions; therefore, [[matter]] is the only substance. As a theory, materialism belongs to the class of [[Monist|monist]] ontology. As such, it is different from ontological theories based on [[dualism]] or [[pluralism]]. For singular explanations of the phenomenal [[reality]], materialism would be in contrast to [[idealism]]. |