Pluralism vs. Monism

The central conflict of the book, defending a pluralistic universe of many independent, interconnected parts against the monistic view of a single, all-encompassing Absolute.

The central contrast of the lecture: dualistic theism (pluralistic) versus monistic pantheism/absolute idealism, with James introducing 'radical empiricism' as a pluralistic alternative.

Central to the chapter: James contrasts the 'all-form' of monistic idealism with the 'each-form' of pluralistic radical empiricism, defending the latter as more reasonable and intimate.

Fechner's system is described as monistic in theology (an all-inclusive God) but pluralistic in allowing 'every grade of spiritual being' between man and God, and James questions whether the monistic turn was logically necessary.

James examines the difficulty of reconciling plural, finite experiences with a monistic absolute, questioning whether collective and distributive experiences can be identical.