Lexic.us

Definition of Idealism

1. Noun. (philosophy) the philosophical theory that ideas are the only reality.

2. Noun. Impracticality by virtue of thinking of things in their ideal form rather than as they really are.

3. Noun. Elevated ideals or conduct; the quality of believing that ideals should be pursued.

Definition of Idealism

1. n. The quality or state of being ideal.

2. n. The practice or habit of giving or attributing ideal form or character to things; treatment of things in art or literature according to ideal standards or patterns; -- opposed to realism.

Definition of Idealism

1. Noun. The property of a person of having high ideals that are usually unrealizable or at odds with practical life. ¹

2. Noun. (philosophy) An approach to philosophical enquiry which asserts that direct and immediate knowledge can only be had of ideas or mental pictures. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Idealism

1. the pursuit of noble goals [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Idealism

ideaed ideal ideal-seeking behavior ideal alveolar gas ideal gas ideal gas law ideal solid idealess idealessness idealisation

idealisations idealise idealised idealises idealising idealism (current term) idealisms idealist idealistic idealistically

idealists idealities ideality idealizable idealization idealizations idealize idealized idealizer idealizers

Literary usage of Idealism

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology: Including Many of the Principal by James Mark Baldwin (1905)
"Brownien, О. A. idealism and Berkeley. Broten- son, i, яд. ... Calderwood, K. Ethical relations of absolute idealism and naturalism. Kew Princeton Rev., v, ..."

2. Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology: Including Many of the Principal by James Mark Baldwin (1901)
"Kant's definition of idealism in the Prolegomena, framed with Berkeley in view, applies equally to the more modern version : ' idealism consists in the ..."

3. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant, John Miller Dow Meiklejohn (1899)
"idealism, however, brings forward powerful objections to these rules for proving existence ... Refutation of idealism idealism—I mean material idealism—is ..."

4. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"idealism.—In discussing this term and its meaning, reference must be had to the ... idealism in life is the characteristic of those who regard the ideas of ..."

5. The German Element in the United States with Special Reference to Its by Albert Bernhardt Faust (1909)
"Lastly the trait of idealism should receive a word of comment ... idealism is the heritage of the German through his literature, philosophy, and religion. ..."

Other Resources: