conceptualism

[ kuhn-sep-choo-uh-liz-uhm ]

nounPhilosophy.
  1. any of several doctrines existing as a compromise between realism and nominalism and regarding universals as concepts.: Compare nominalism, realism (def. 5).

Origin of conceptualism

1
First recorded in 1830–40; conceptual + -ism

Other words from conceptualism

  • con·cep·tu·al·ist, noun
  • con·cep·tu·al·is·tic, adjective
  • con·cep·tu·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

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British Dictionary definitions for conceptualism

conceptualism

/ (kənˈsɛptjʊəˌlɪzəm) /


noun
  1. the philosophical theory that the application of general words to a variety of objects reflects the existence of some mental entity through which the application is mediated and which constitutes the meaning of the term: Compare nominalism, realism, Platonism

  2. the philosophical view that there is no reality independent of our conception of it, or (as in the philosophy of Kant) that the intellect is not a merely passive recipient of experience but rather imposes a structure on it

Derived forms of conceptualism

  • conceptualist, noun
  • conceptualistic, adjective

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