Yes, you can argue that monism is more fundamental or basic than dualism, and in a certain sense, dualism can be seen as a development or an offshoot of monistic thinking. Here's how this perspective can be understood:
1. **Monism as a Fundamental Concept:**
- **Monism** posits that there is a single underlying reality or substance from which everything originates. This idea suggests that all diversity and multiplicity in the universe are ultimately expressions of one unified reality.
- Historically and philosophically, many early cosmologies and metaphysical systems start with a notion of unity. For example, in ancient Indian philosophy, the concept of **Brahman** in Advaita Vedanta represents a singular reality, while in pre-Socratic Greek philosophy, thinkers like Thales proposed that all things are made from a single substance (like water).
2. **Dualism as a Development of Monism:**
- **Dualism**, on the other hand, introduces the concept of two fundamental and often opposing principles, such as mind and body, good and evil, or spirit and matter. Dualism recognizes a division within reality, creating a framework where two distinct substances or realities exist independently of each other.
- Dualistic thinking often arises as a way to explain the apparent contradictions and complexities in the world, such as the existence of both good and evil, or the distinction between the physical and the spiritual.
3. **Philosophical and Historical Development:**
- In many philosophical traditions, the idea of a unified, single reality (monism) is considered more foundational because it addresses the origin of existence and the nature of being in its most undifferentiated form.
- Dualism can be seen as a more complex or evolved response to the need to account for the diversity, conflict, and dualities observed in the world. In this sense, dualism may be thought of as emerging from monistic thinking when it becomes necessary to explain the multiplicity within the unity.
In summary, **monism** can be considered more basic or fundamental because it begins with the idea of a single, unified reality. **Dualism** can be seen as a later development that arises to address the complexities and distinctions observed within that unified reality. Therefore, it is reasonable to say that dualism came after monism, at least in the conceptual and philosophical sense.
