phenomenalism

[ fi-nom-uh-nl-iz-uhm ]

nounPhilosophy.
  1. the doctrine that phenomena are the only objects of knowledge or the only form of reality.

  2. the view that all things, including human beings, consist simply of the aggregate of their observable, sensory qualities.

Origin of phenomenalism

1
First recorded in 1860–65; phenomenal + -ism

Other words from phenomenalism

  • phe·nom·e·nal·ist, noun
  • phe·nom·e·nal·is·tic, adjective
  • phe·nom·e·nal·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby phenomenalism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use phenomenalism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phenomenalism

phenomenalism

/ (fɪˈnɒmɪnəˌlɪzəm) /


noun
  1. philosophy the doctrine that statements about physical objects and the external world can be analysed in terms of possible or actual experiences, and that entities, such as physical objects, are only mental constructions out of phenomenal appearances: Compare idealism (def. 3), realism (def. 6)

Derived forms of phenomenalism

  • phenomenalist, noun, adjective
  • phenomenalistically, adverb

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