Materialism

Materialism is a philosophical position which maintains that the matter and the natural world hold primacy over ideals. Materialism recognizes that aspects such as human consciousness are products of matter and is indivisible from its physical laws. Materialism stands in contrast to idealism, which regards matter as secondary to mental constructs.

Materialism is primarily divided into two tendencies; dialectical materialism (the philosophy of Marxism) and metaphysical or vulgar materialism, the latter of which incorporates elements of idealism into its tenets.

See also

• Dialectical materialism
• Vulgar materialism