conceptualism

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

/ kənˈsɛp tʃu əˌlɪz əm /

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noun Philosophy.

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

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Origin of conceptualism

First recorded in 1830–40; conceptual + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM conceptualism

con·cep·tu·al·ist, nouncon·cep·tu·al·is·tic, adjectivecon·cep·tu·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby conceptualism

conception, conception rate, conceptor, conceptual, conceptual art, conceptualism, conceptualization, conceptualize, conceptually, conceptual realism, conceptus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use conceptualism in a sentence

Conceptualism exploded the art experience, made it an idea and experience, and something more than purely visual.
A Gay American Artist in Kaiser’s Berlin|Sarah Bay Williams|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So far nominalism and conceptualism—the theory that kinds exist only in words or in ideas—was on the right track.
Reconstruction in Philosophy|John Dewey
The view of Socrates is the meeting-point of the other two, just as conceptualism is the meeting-point of nominalism and realism.
Cratylus|Plato
The names by which the three doctrines are respectively designated are, Realism, Nominalism, and Conceptualism.
Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will|Joseph Haven

The term Concept has no necessary connection with the theory called Conceptualism.
Review of the Work of Mr John Stuart Mill Entitled, 'Examination of Sir William Hamilton's Philosophy.'|George Grote
Nominalism is covered by empirical tendencies, and conceptualism by modern idealism.
The Approach to Philosophy|Ralph Barton Perry

British Dictionary definitions for conceptualism

conceptualism

/ (kənˈsɛptjʊəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

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 termCompare nominalism, realism, Platonism

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, nounconceptualistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012