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subjective idealism

American  

noun

Philosophy.
  1. a doctrine that the world has no existence independent of sensations or ideas.


subjective idealism British  

noun

  1. philosophy the theory that all experience is of ideas in the mind

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of subjective idealism

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For example, here in Japan, subjective idealism, illusion, wishful thinking or emotion occasionally starts to drive diplomacy walk alone to nowhere, with no solid or cold-blooded calculation.

From Newsweek • Dec. 21, 2009

He assumes a middle place between Reid and Kant, and endeavors to blend the subjective idealism of the latter with the realism of the former.

From Christianity and Greek Philosophy or, the relation between spontaneous and reflective thought in Greece and the positive teaching of Christ and His Apostles by Cocker, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin)

The burden of the teachings of this sect is subjective idealism.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by Griffis, William Elliot

It was, however, impossible for Descartes to be content with a subjective idealism that confined all knowledge to the tautological expression of self-consciousness “I am I,” “What I perceive I perceive.”

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

The subjective idealism of Fichte, however, generated an Aesthetic: that of irony as the base of art.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Croce, Benedetto

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