atomism

at·om·ism  (t-mzm)

n. Philosophy

1. The ancient theory of Democritus, Epicurus, and Lucretius, according to which simple, minute, indivisible, and indestructible particles are the basic components of the entire universe.

2. A theory according to which social institutions, values, and processes arise solely from the acts and interests of individuals, who thus constitute the only true subject of analysis.

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atom·ist n.

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atomism [ˈætəˌmɪzəm]

n

1. (Philosophy) an ancient philosophical theory, developed by Democritus, the Greek philosopher (?460-?370 bc) and Lucretius, the Roman poet and philosopher (?96-55 bc), that the ultimate constituents of the universe are atoms: see atom (sense 3)

2. (Philosophy)

a.  any of a number of theories that hold that some objects or phenomena can be explained as constructed out of a small number of distinct types of simple indivisible entities

b.  any theory that holds that an understanding of the parts is logically prior to an understanding of the whole Compare holism [3]

3. (Psychology) Psychol the theory that experiences and mental states are composed of elementary units

atomist  n & adj

atomistic , atomistical adj

atomistically  adv

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atomism

the theory that minute, discrete, finite, and indivisible elements are the ultimate constituents of all matter. Also called atomic theory. — atomist, n. — atomistic, atomistical, adj.

See also: Philosophy

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	atomism - (psychology) a theory that reduces all mental phenomena to simple elements (sensations and feelings) that form complex ideas by association scientific theory - a theory that explains scientific observations; "scientific theories must be falsifiable" psychological science, psychology - the science of mental life
	2.	atomism - (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles; "the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe" atomist theory, atomistic theory, atomic theory theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory" chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions holism, holistic theory - the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole; "holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"; "holistic theory has been applied to ecology and language and mental states"

Translations

atomism

n (Philos) → Atomismus m