conceptualism

American  

[kuhn-sep-choo-uh-liz-uhm] / kənˈsɛp tʃu əˌlɪz əm /

noun

Philosophy.

1. any of several doctrines existing as a compromise between realism and nominalism and regarding universals as concepts.

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conceptualism British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• conceptualist noun
• conceptualistic adjective
• conceptualistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of conceptualism

First recorded in 1830–40; conceptual + -ism

Example Sentences

It highlights important movements with SoCal roots, such as Light and Space, Pop art, Minimalism, California conceptualism, and early and midcentury modernism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2022

I grew up in the era of conceptualism and earthworks and all those artists.

From New York Times • Oct. 27, 2021

With this attention to detail, Hayden cinches his spot as a noteworthy figure in the lineage of American conceptualism.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2021

Like Tate before it, MoMA will no longer bandy around terms such as cubism, post-impressionism, abstract expressionism, or conceptualism in its labels.

From The Guardian • Oct. 16, 2019

This theory which considers universals as having their basis in things, is a progress towards the pure conceptualism which we have in the beginning indicated and shunned.

From Lectures on the true, the beautiful and the good by Cousin, Victor