Critical Monism
Critical Monism
(a) In ontologyThe view of reality which holds that it is one in number but that the unity embraces real multiplicity. Harald Hffding (1843-1931) gave the title of critical monism to the theory that reality, like conscious experience, is one although there are many items within that experience. Another exampleboth the One and the Many exist and in the closest relation without either merging or cancelling the other. The One is immanent in the Many although transcendent; the Many are immanent in the One although in a sense beyond it.
(b) In epistemologyA variety of ”critical realism.” The view which holds that in the knowledge-relation the subject or percipient is at one (monism) with the object or the thing objectively existent and perceived, and that the subject contributes qualities not inherent in the object (hence, critical) and the object contains qualities not perceived. — V.F.