abstractionismn.
/əbˈstrakʃn̩ɪz(ə)m/, /əbˈstrakʃənɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /əbˈstrækʃəˌnɪz(ə)m/, /æbˈstrækʃəˌnɪz(ə)m/ 1. Usually somewhat depreciative. The presentation of ideas in abstract terms; the tendency to favour abstract explanations and theories while ignoring or paying insufficient attention to concrete details or particular instances.With quot. 1842, cf. abstractionist n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > [noun] > separating of ideas
precision1529
abstraction1579
abstractionism1842
the world > existence and causation > existence > substantiality or concreteness > unsubstantiality or abstractness > [noun] > abstractness > abstraction > pursuit of
abstractionism1842
1842 J. Hastings Remarks Tariff Bill 13/1 Man, in the Northern hemisphere of this side of the Atlantic, is investigating every thing..at this moment, and do we expect to stop this..by crying out ultraism and radicalism and abstractionism?
1877 C. W. Shields Final Philos. ii. ii. 500 Can we conceive of any abstractionism more wild than that which would construct the entire fabric of human knowledge out of an empty generalization of history?
1909 W. James Meaning of Truth xiv. 284 Abstractionism of the worst sort dogs Mr. Russell in his own trials to tell positively what the word ‘truth’ means.
1993 L. E. Cady Relig., Theol., & Amer. Public Life iv. 113 We are indebted to recent liberation theologies for exposing the dangers of theological abstractionism.
2. A style or method in the visual arts and architecture characterized by freedom from or absence of representational qualities. Also in extended use with reference to literature, music, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > period, movement, or school of art > late 19th and 20th centuries > [noun] > abstractionism
abstraction1909
abstractionism1921
non-objectivism1936
non-objectivity1936
1921 Arts Dec. 159/2 Regardless of what one thinks of either cubism or the extreme left of abstractionism, I wished to point out the..thoroughness of technique which they demand.
1937 H. Read Art & Society ii. 49 Generally a high degree of naturalism excludes a co-existent abstractionism.
1952 Lit. Guide Apr. 60/1 Ours is the age of atomic energy..of psycho-analysis and abstractionism in the arts.
1999 Building Design 13 Aug. 40/3 By 1935, modernism was splitting into two camps: abstractionism and surrealism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1842