What is the philosophical view that equates reality to physical matter?

The philosophical view that equates reality to physical matter is known as materialism. Materialism posits that everything that exists is either made of matter or is dependent on matter for its existence. This perspective emphasizes the importance of the physical universe and often rejects the notion of anything beyond the material world, such as spiritual or metaphysical concepts. By focusing solely on physical substances and processes, materialism informs many scientific approaches to understanding reality, emphasizing observable phenomena and dismissing non-physical explanations.

In contrast, idealism holds that reality is fundamentally mental or immaterial, suggesting that consciousness and ideas are the primary components of the universe. Dualism introduces a distinction between the material and the immaterial, asserting the existence of both physical substances and spiritual substances. Property dualism, a subset of dualism, suggests that mental properties arise from physical substances but maintains distinct categories for the material and immaterial. These views differ fundamentally from materialism, which does not acknowledge any form of existence beyond physical matter.