Dualism

Dualism refers to a conceptual framework that divides reality into two contrasting and opposing elements. These paired elements are usually understood to exist in tension and to explain how the world works. In religious and philosophical texts, dualism may describe moral oppositions, cosmic conflict, or divisions between material and non-material realms. Dualism does not always imply equal power between the two sides; in many systems, one is viewed as dominant or ultimately victorious. As an interpretive category, dualism helps describe how texts organize meaning by contrast, boundary, and opposition.