Which of the following is considered a strength of materialism?

Materialism is a philosophical position asserting that everything that exists is either made of matter or is dependent on matter for its existence. A strength of materialism is its practical applicability, particularly in therapeutic practices, where a materialistic understanding of the mind and body can lead to effective interventions.

By viewing mental phenomena as products of physical processes, materialism encourages approaches such as psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, which have demonstrated significant success in treating psychological disorders. This empirical basis supports the notion that psychological states are interconnected with neurological and biochemical processes, leading to tangible benefits in treatment outcomes.

Moreover, materialism's scientific foundation allows for the development of measurable, objective methods to study behavior and mental health, promoting evidence-based therapeutic practices. The success of these methods highlights how materialist perspectives can yield practical results in real-world settings, establishing this option as a notable strength of the materialist worldview.

In contrast, the existence of the soul being empirically proven would contradict materialism, which does not recognize non-physical entities. The claim that materialism fully accounts for free will is more complex and debated, as many argue it challenges the concept of free will. Finally, relying heavily on personal beliefs undermines materialism’s empirical nature, which is based on observation and evidence rather