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Idealism

//ʌɪˈdɪəlɪz(ə)m// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The property of a person of having high ideals that are usually unrealizable or at odds with practical life. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    elevated ideals or conduct; the quality of believing that ideals should be pursued wordnet
  3. 3
    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. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    impracticality by virtue of thinking of things in their ideal form rather than as they really are wordnet
  5. 5
    An approach to philosophical enquiry, which asserts that direct and immediate knowledge can only be had of ideas or mental pictures. countable, uncountable
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  1. 6
    (philosophy) the philosophical theory that ideas are the only reality wordnet

Etymology

First attested 1796, from ideal + -ism.

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