spiritualism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the belief and practice centered on communicating with the spirits of dead people, often through a medium

   Her interest in spiritualism led her to attend a séance.

2. 2
   noun

   the philosophical view that spirit or mind is fundamental and not reducible to matter

   The philosopher defended spiritualism against a strictly materialist account of consciousness.

Formed from spiritual and -ism. It was used for doctrines emphasizing spirit rather than matter and, in the nineteenth century, became especially associated with the movement claiming that the living can communicate with the dead.

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