Materialism

As I understand it, materialism (a.k.a. physicalism) is the philosophical orientation according to which existence is identified with physical extension. That is to say, everything that exists is either physical (having the properties of mass, location etc.), or supervenes on the physical. This latter caveat is necessary to account for a number of diverse phenomena that while they seem to lack direct physicality, are somehow dependent on physical objects for their manifestation. Examples of such phenomena which putatively supervene on the physical include force (gravitation, magnetism etc.) as well as relations.

Materialism is generally considered to be a form of monism in that it attributes reality to only physical things. While this position may be eliminative with respect to qualia and other residua of the mind/body distinction, it is a much more inclusive doctrine than it might at first appear. It can accommodate various abstract objects, such as numbers and classes. It acknowledges and offers an explanation for subjective experiences such as pain. Even if we are restricted to a more narrow consideration of physical objects, we find that this includes remarkable diversity. Consider, for example, the plurality of elementary particles known to physicists such as quarks and bosons, not to mention the various antiparticles. If materialism is a species of monism, it certainly seems to be a broad and inclusive one.

Materialism is often understood to be a threat to traditional values; a view that tends to be uncritically adopted by those who can't be bothered to investigate beyond the popular polemic. When approached without prejudice however, materialism is revealed to be a much richer philosophy than many people realize, and may yet shed some light on issues of a more general interest than those involving the collision of billiard balls.