intuitionism

American  

[in-too-ish-uh-niz-uhm, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn tuˈɪʃ əˌnɪz əm, -tyu- /

noun

1. Ethics. the doctrine that moral values and duties can be discerned directly.

2. Metaphysics.

   1. the doctrine that in perception external objects are given immediately, without the intervention of a representative idea.

   2. the doctrine that knowledge rests upon axiomatic truths discerned directly.

3. Logic, Mathematics. the doctrine, propounded by L. E. J. Brouwer, that a mathematical object is considered to exist only if a method for constructing it can be given.

---

intuitionism British  

/ ˌɪntjʊˈɪʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. 1. the doctrine that there are moral truths discoverable by intuition

   2. the doctrine that there is no single principle by which to resolve conflicts between intuited moral rules See also deontological

2. philosophy the theory that general terms are used of a variety of objects in accordance with perceived similarities Compare nominalism Platonism

3. logic the doctrine that logical axioms rest on prior intuitions concerning time, negation, and provability

4. 1. the theory that mathematics cannot intelligibly comprehend the properties of infinite sets, and that only what can be shown to be provable can be justifiably asserted

   2. the reconstruction of mathematics or logic in accordance with this view Compare formalism logicism finitism

5. the doctrine that knowledge, esp of the external world, is acquired by intuition

---

Other Word Forms

• intuitionist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of intuitionism

First recorded in 1840–50; intuition + -ism

Example Sentences

L. E. J. Brouwer, for whom the theorem was named, founded a movement in mathematics called intuitionism.

From Scientific American • Aug. 27, 2018

Dewey's criticism of intuitionism scarcely does justice to that method, whatever may be its inherent weakness.

From John Dewey's logical theory by Howard, Delton Thomas

Nor does he ever seem inclined to break with intuitionism completely.

From A Handbook of Ethical Theory by Fullerton, George Stuart

And, like other forms of intuitionism, it has the merit of avoiding that short-circuiting which may easily prove seductive to the egoist or the utilitarian.

From A Handbook of Ethical Theory by Fullerton, George Stuart

Their theories vary in detail and have received sundry names; we will group them here for convenience under the general caption "moral intuitionism."

From Problems of Conduct by Drake, Durant