The relationship between dualism and science is complex, but it is not necessary to conclude that without dualism, there wouldn’t be science.
Dualism, particularly Cartesian dualism (mind-body dualism), played an important historical role in the development of modern science. René Descartes' separation of the mind (consciousness) from the body (physical matter) allowed for a more focused study of the physical world as something that could be objectively understood, measured, and manipulated. By distinguishing between the mental and physical realms, Descartes and others created a framework where the natural world could be investigated without reference to metaphysical or spiritual concerns, which was conducive to the rise of empirical science.
However, science does not inherently rely on dualism. Many scientific frameworks operate on monistic or even non-dualistic principles. For example, in materialist monism, everything, including consciousness, is understood to emerge from physical processes, and science is used to study those processes without assuming a separate mental or spiritual realm. Similarly, in more recent developments like quantum physics and systems biology, reality is often viewed as interconnected and holistic, challenging strict dualistic separations between subject and object, or mind and matter.
In other words, while dualism historically facilitated the early development of science by delineating the physical world as a distinct object of study, science itself does not require dualism as a foundational principle. Different metaphysical frameworks, including non-dualistic ones, can still support scientific inquiry.
