What does dualistically mean?
Dualistically is a formal adverb meaning 'in terms of dualism' — that is, in a way that divides something into two distinct and usually opposing parts. Its most famous context is philosophy of mind, where to think dualistically is to treat mind and body, or soul and matter, as fundamentally separate substances rather than aspects of one reality. Beyond philosophy, the word can describe any habitual splitting of a subject into binary categories: good and evil, nature and nurture, us and them. Because it belongs largely to academic registers — philosophy, theology, psychology, and literary criticism — it rarely appears in casual speech, where speakers tend to use plainer phrasing. Its value lies precisely in its precision: it names a whole intellectual stance, not just an act of comparison. To describe someone as thinking dualistically is to identify, in a single word, a deep-seated tendency to see the world through opposing pairs rather than as an integrated whole.
adverbIn a manner that involves or relates to dualism; by dividing or regarding something as consisting of two distinct and often opposing parts, such as mind and body.
- In terms of, or according to, philosophical dualism — especially the division of reality into mind and matter, or body and soul.
- More generally, in a manner that divides anything into two distinct, often opposed categories.
"The philosopher argued that the mind cannot be understood if we continue to think dualistically about body and soul."
"Cartesian philosophy encourages us to think dualistically about mind and body."
"She refused to frame the debate dualistically, insisting that reason and emotion are intertwined rather than opposed."
Every time you say 'mind versus body,' you're thinking dualistically — a habit philosophers have been trying to break for over four hundred years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dualistically
Dualistically derives from 'dualistic,' itself formed from 'dualism,' a term coined from the Latin 'dualis' (meaning 'two' or 'containing two'), which traces back to 'duo,' the Latin word for two. The term 'dualism' entered English usage in the late eighteenth century, particularly in discussions of metaphysics and religion, and the adverb followed as philosophical writing demanded it. Its Latin root also gives English cognates such as 'duel,' 'duality,' and 'duplicate.'
Related word forms
How dualistically is actually used
A formal, academic word found almost exclusively in philosophy, theology, psychology, and scholarly criticism. Rare in everyday conversation; writers typically prefer simpler phrases like 'in black-and-white terms' in general prose.
Easily confused with dualistically
"Dualistically" concerns twofold divisions such as mind and body, while "duelistically" would relate to duels between two combatants — a rare or nonstandard word.