externalism

American  

[ik-stur-nl-iz-uhm] / ɪkˈstɜr nlˌɪz əm /

noun

1. attention to externals, especially excessive attention to externals, as in religion.

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externalism British  

/ ɪkˈstɜːnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. exaggerated emphasis on outward form, esp in religious worship

2. a philosophical doctrine holding that only objects that can be perceived by the senses are real; phenomenalism

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Other Word Forms

• externalist noun

Etymology

Origin of externalism

First recorded in 1855–60; external + -ism

Example Sentences

The second reason may well be that there are different coping mechanisms among minorities that are more externalism than internalizing.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2013

But with the rise of mind in nature the bond of externalism is implicitly overcome.

From Hegel's Philosophy of Mind by Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich

Yes, I see all that, and all the externalism of her life.

From Dawn by Adams, Harriet A.

That externalism, whether in school or out of school, is the foster-mother of the whole brood, is almost too obvious to need demonstration.

From What Is and What Might Be A Study of Education in General and Elementary Education in Particular by Holmes, Edmond

Some of these are good enough, but they nearly all culminate in an ambitious externalism.

From A Breeze from the Woods, 2nd Ed. by Bartlett, William Chauncey