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'''Materialism''' is a [[philosophy]] within the realm of [[metaphysics]] that holds that the only thing that can be proven beyond doubt to exist is matter.  Materialism holds that all phenomena and processes can be explained as manifestations or results of matter.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/materialism Merriam Webster Dictionary: Materialism]</ref>

'''Materialism''' is a [[philosophy]] within the realm of [[metaphysics]] that holds that the only thing that can be proven beyond doubt to exist is matter.  Materialism holds that all phenomena and processes can be explained as manifestations or results of matter.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/materialism Merriam Webster Dictionary: Materialism]</ref>

In politics, materialism overlooks abstract principles and instead focuses on tangible or directly observable characteristics, such as:

Materialism defies both experience and logic.  Experience provides numerous [[counterexamples]] that disprove materialism, such as [[migration]], [[homing]], [[action-at-a-distance]] and [[non-locality]], plus extraordinary good and evil events that lack statistically plausible explanations.  Materialism is also contrary to logic, as there no logical reason to expect human senses to be able to fully recognize all of reality.

 

Materialism ignores unseen [[opportunity costs]], and often materialists are unable or unwilling to grasp this and other abstract truths.  Materialists have trouble realizing that the deterrence effect of gun ownership yields more benefits than any harm that guns cause.  Materialists often develop obsessions with their outlook, as reflected by [[evolution syndrome]].

Materialism ignores unseen [[opportunity costs]], and often materialists are unable or unwilling to grasp this and other abstract truths.  Materialists have trouble realizing that the deterrence effect of gun ownership yields more benefits than any harm that guns cause.  Materialists often develop obsessions with their outlook, as reflected by [[evolution syndrome]].

*exaggerating possible material causes of anxiety and possible material remedies, such as medication

*exaggerating possible material causes of anxiety and possible material remedies, such as medication

== Background to Materialism ==

 

== Materialism in Politics ==

 

 

In the [[United States]], [[Democrats]] tend to be materialistic, with particularly heavy emphasis placed on race, gender and job title.  [[Republicans]], in contrast, tend to focus on principles such as [[pro-life]] or [[economics]].

In the [[United States]], [[Democrats]] tend to be materialistic, with particularly heavy emphasis placed on race, gender and job title.  [[Republicans]], in contrast, tend to focus on principles such as [[pro-life]] or [[economics]].

Materialism is taught heavily in [[public schools]], leading students to undervalue [[unseen]] aspects of life.  There is a high correlation between materialism and [[atheism]] as atheism is fundamentally a materialistic philosophy.  Materialism denies that most great intellectual breakthroughs were the brainchild of men with [[faith]] in the [[unseen]].

Materialism is taught heavily in [[public schools]], leading students to undervalue [[unseen]] aspects of life.  There is a high correlation between materialism and [[atheism]] as atheism is fundamentally a materialistic philosophy.  Materialism denies that most great intellectual breakthroughs were the brainchild of men with [[faith]] in the [[unseen]].

Materialism misleads people into thinking that non-material-based addictions (e.g., gambling and pornography) are not harmful to one's health.  They are often very harmful despite a lack of immediate physical harm.

== Other Aspects of Materialism ==

Arguments for materialism commonly use principles such as [[Occam's Razor]] to propose that an immaterial realm is wholly superfluous to materialists' understanding of the world.

Arguments for materialism commonly use principles such as [[Occam's Razor]] to propose that an immaterial realm is wholly superfluous to materialists' understanding of the world.