Physicalism

Posted on January 20, 2004
Filed Under Journal, Society |

An often used word on these pages and in today’s world is “materialism”. It is a clear and present fact that modern western culture is embedded deeply within an attitude of material wealth and material possessions. This attitude of “materialism” has gone beyond mere existential living; it is now beyond an imagined necessity or even greed. It has become an obsession. The western world has a society based on an obsessive belief that life is improved via continuously enhancing our materialistic existence.

This paragraph above conveys what is often meant by the word “materialism”.

However, there is a further – far deeper meaning behind the word “materialism” in general, and especially when it is related to life as a whole. There is another word which carries this secondary deeper (and far more important meaning) it is a word that is rarely used; Physicalism.

There are many branches of philosophy that concentrate on physicalism, but it should be made clear now, that as the term is used here it should not be confused with those other philosophies. Whilst here the word physicalism carries many of the same concepts as those other philosophies based on the same word – as the word is used here on this page, it is not meant as an ideal or belief that we should follow.

Rather the world physicalism as it is used here refers to a form of consciousness. This consciousness can be considered as an entity in its own right – insofar as when referring to physicalism as a concept. However, it is also a form of consciousness that also permeates individuals, groups and cultures.

Physicalism and materialism are utterly interconnected and cannot exist one from the other. Often the words are used interchangeably but it needs to be made clear which meaning is under discussion. At the start of this page, the generally held view of the word “materialism” was discussed. This view of the word is a concept within itself – however it is an attitude of living that has been born into humanity from the consciousness of physicalism. Thus materialism as it refers to material wealth and material possession, is a smaller descendant of physicalism.

Whilst materialism concerns itself with life-style and living conditions, physicalism concerns itself with becoming a defining view on how life, the world and existence itself is perceived.

On its most base level, the consciousness of physicalism concerns itself only with that which can be perceived, measured, reasoned or calculated as a physical existing substance in any form. This consciousness can only understand what in effect can be “seen” by any one of the human senses, (in some cases scientific intervention is required before human senses can find perception of a measured physical substance).

This idea of measurable existence which forms the “belief” of physicalism consciousness extends beyond mere scientific usage.

Physicalism has become the main upheld form of consciousness within the minds of western culture. It thus concerns itself with viewing life itself in any form by using measurable calculations. For example, a human with such consciousness relates feelings of _all_ emotion to be a result of physical stimuli. Further still, this consciousness will perceive these emotions themselves as being constructed of purely physical measurable forms.

The consciousness of physicalism also concerns itself with language, which has becoming its most important unifying tool.

Language itself – under this consciousness – is viewed as purely a physical form. Thus it believes that only language alone can be used to relate concepts and therefore understanding of _all existence_. More importantly, physicalism is concerned with _specifics_ within language. That is the breaking down of words to specific meanings, which are then used in multi and unilateral ways. The specifics of language as used by physicalism are a requirement for this consciousness to identify and comprehend its surroundings and existence.

Thus the process of physicalism so far described is as follows. The consciousness of physicalism believes only in physical measurable substance. It uses this concept to relate to all of existence by using many physical tools such as science, the most important tool of which is as already stated; language. The Language of Physicalism is required to break down measurable forms into meanings that can be understood within the mind in a way that is _physical_.

It is therefore eminently clear at this point that physicalism adopts that which exists around it and breaks it down into specific, literal and _reasoned_ concepts. This is necessary because the consciousness of physicalism views existence in a specific, literal and _reasoned_ way.

Physicalism consciousness then; is a process that translates existence into base, clear cut _meanings_.

The word “meaning” carries a very important role within physicalism, as it is felt that everything within existence has a _physical_ meaning. Physicalism consciousness concerns itself with breaking down reality and existence into specifics in order to translate existence into _physical_ meaning.

This need to relate constantly to physical meaning has resulted in physicalism believing that just as all reality has physical meaning; it deems by extension that all physical representation has a direct relationship with reality. This belief is what has lead to the evolution of materialism as described at the beginning of this article.

The emphasis placed upon the importance of physical representation has meant that material wealth, material possession and material appearance are key factors in the lives of those that live under physicalism.

In the aforementioned way the emphasis placed upon the specifics of Physical Language has also lead to a form of materialism, but here it is a materialism based upon words. This has lead to an obsession with the belief in the importance of titles, names, phrases etc. Further still, Physical Language is the only way for this consciousness to comprehend anything. Such consciousness can only comprehend any existential subject by translating said subject it to a language based of physical forms and concpets This forms the additional aspect of modern materialism.

This is the idealism that has permeated western culture, and in one aspect or another forms the basis of the beliefs of a majority percentage of the populations within these hemispheres.

Each of us needs to question this consciousness, as most assuredly each of us feels its presence to many varying degrees. Do we believe that physicalism - which inherently leads to a materialistic worldview – is a definition of our lives? Do we feel that each and every situation around us is to be understood by specific, literal language - which itself comes with the innate ability to manipulate?

We are faced with tempting choices to live a life of material wealth. A life that is based on the requirement of believing that physical substance will in one way or another improve us. Our existential situation has become such that we are defining ourselves and our lives but what we do and say, what we earn, where we live, what we possess and how we appear. Modern civilisation is based on these beliefs…and each and every layer that exists there of, from economics, to media, to perceived fears of terror.

The magician uses techniques of manipulative physical means to create illusions, it is understood then that physicalism – that physicality – is a form that constantly appears to be what it is not. That physicality is distortable, because by its very nature it is based on the belief in physicalism. Illusions are only possible because ultimately the spectator relies utterly on a perspective of physicality.

Is then the illusion the product of the magician – or is it rather the product of physicalism?

Are our lives the product of physicalism, or is there perhaps something more?

Marcus - 2004