representationalism

[ rep-ri-zen-tey-shuh-nl-iz-uh m, -zuh n- ]

/ ˌrɛp rɪ zɛnˈteɪ ʃə nlˌɪz əm, -zən- /

noun

Also called representative realism. Epistemology. the view that the objects of perception are ideas or sense data that represent external objects, especially the Lockean doctrine that the perceived idea represents exactly the primary qualities of the external object.

Fine Arts. the practice or principle of representing or depicting an object in a recognizable manner, especially the portrayal of the surface characteristics of an object as they appear to the eye.

Nearby words

reprehensive, reprehensively, represent, representation, representational, representationalism, representative, representatives, representatives, house of, repress, repressed

Origin of representationalism

First recorded in 1895–1900; representational + -ism

Related forms

rep·re·sen·ta·tion·al·ist, nounrep·re·sen·ta·tion·al·is·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for representationalism

representationalism

representationism

/ (ˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃənəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

philosophy the doctrine that in perceptions of objects what is before the mind is not the object but a representation of itCompare presentationism, naive realism See also barrier of ideas

fine arts the practice or advocacy of attempting to depict objects, scenes, figures, etc, directly as seen

Derived Forms

representationalistic, adjectiverepresentationist, noun, 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