What is the nature of a post-materialist paradigm? Three types of theories

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1 Scopus citations

Abstract

What does it mean to have a post-materialist theory? I propose that there are three classes or categories of theories. (1) Type I post-materialist theories: neo-physical theories that are derived from materialist theories, where the materialist theories are still seen as primary and are viewed as being fundamentally necessary to create "non-material" (yet physical) phenomena such as consciousness. (2) Type II post-materialist theories: post-materialist theories of consciousness existing alongside materialist theories, where each class of theories are seen as primary and are viewed as not being derivable from (i.e. are not reducible to) the other And (3) Type I post-materialist theories: where materialist theories are derived from, and are a subset of, more inclusive post-materialist theories of consciousness; here post-materialist theories are seen as primary and are viewed as the ultimate origin of material systems. Type I theories are the least controversial, Type III are the most controversial. The three types of theories are considered in the context of the history of the emergence of post-materialist science.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)123-127
Number of pages5
JournalExplore: The Journal of Science and Healing
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2016

Keywords

  • consciousness
  • paradigm shift
  • physicalism
  • post-materialist science
  • primary

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing
  • Analysis
  • Chiropractics
  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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