What is Dualism and Why Does It Matter?
I have had people ask me lately about the meaning of non-duality or dualistic thinking. I am convinced it is at the core of several problematic issues, in our own lives, but especially within religion and American politics. If you are not familiar with the language, let me share a few thoughts for your consideration.
Duality refers to a way of perceiving and experiencing the world that transcends the usual binary, either/or, mutually exclusive way of thinking. Dualism tends to categorize everything as good or bad, right or wrong, us or them, and so on. Non-duality (both/and) is a more holistic way of understanding reality, where apparent opposites are seen as part of a greater, unified whole. The aspect that intrigues me the most is how nondual thinking helps to move beyond the ego’s inclination to separate and judge, towards a more inclusive view of life.
Key pitfalls of dualistic thinking:
Oversimplification: It reduces complex issues to overly simplistic binaries, ignoring the nuanced and multifaceted nature of reality. Life is full of mystery and paradox.
Polarization: It encourages an “us vs. them” mentality, leading to division and hostility between different groups.
Lack of Empathy: It makes it difficult to see the world from the perspective of others, reducing the capacity for empathy and understanding.
Resistance to Change: With dualistic thinking, people often become entrenched in their viewpoints, and resistant to new information or perspectives that don’t fit within the established binary.
Inhibition of Personal Growth: It can limit one’s ability to learn and grow from experiences that don’t fit neatly into one category or another.
Examples of Dualistic Thinking:
Good vs. Bad
Liberal vs. Conservative
Us vs. Them
Success vs. Failure
Strong vs. Weak
Rational vs. Emotional
Science vs. Religion
Love vs. Hate
Winner vs. Loser
Physical Health vs. Mental Health
One of the most destructive examples of dualism today involves the win/lose posture so prevalent in American politics. Dualistic thinking drives people to think they need to make their “opponent” lose so they can win. Immature people do not look for opportunities for win/win outcomes.
Another insidious side of dualistic thinking is that it produces a judgmental posture toward the other. We almost instantly, without thought, judge other people. We are right; they are wrong. We are good; they are bad. We are smart; they are stupid. We know the truth; they do not. Part of what makes all of this so difficult is that in the West we are trained in dualistic thinking. We are taught to know most things by comparison. We look for contrasts. Then we label or judge. If you don’t think this is true, take notice throughout your day. See how often you automatically fall into a pattern of dualistic thinking.
Last thought, one author talks about there being a place for dualistic thinking, primarily in the first half of life. There are times when we are learning our way in the world and we need to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, etc. But as we grow older, and we move into the second half of life, a more mature look at the world will bring us to a more holistic, non-dual way of thinking. We will be able to hold the tension in paradox and mystery and we will have a more integrated, both/and way of viewing others and viewing the world.
