Idealism
/aɪˈdiː.ə.lɪ.zəm/noun
A philosophical or political approach that gives priority to ideas, consciousness, or ideals over material conditions.
Did you know?Idealism’s deepest philosophical ancestor is Plato’s theory of Forms, in which perfect, invisible realities were considered more fundamental than the changing objects we perceive.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weyd-
“To see; by extension, to know”
Ancient Greek
Greek
idein
“To see”
Ancient Greek
Greek
idea
“A form, appearance, or concept perceived by the mind”
Late Latin
Latin
idealism
“A later philosophical formation based on idealis, meaning pertaining to an idea or ideal”
18th Century
French/German
idéalisme / Idealismus
“A philosophical doctrine emphasizing ideas, mind, or ideals”
1796
English
idealism
“The doctrine or practice of treating ideas or ideals as primary”