Dualism is a metaphysical position that understands reality in terms of two fundamentally distinct kinds or principles. In discussions of the Mind-Body Problem, dualism typically distinguishes mind or consciousness from physical matter, treating them as different in nature rather than as two descriptions of the same underlying reality. Dualist theories raise questions about how distinct kinds of being can interact, how mental causation is possible, and how dualism compares with alternatives such as monism, materialism, and idealism.