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formalism
(redirected from formalisms)

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
for·mal·ism  (fôrm-lzm)
n.
1. Rigorous or excessive adherence to recognized forms, as in religion or art.
2. An instance of rigorous or excessive adherence to recognized forms.
3. A method of aesthetic analysis that emphasizes structural elements and artistic techniques rather than content, especially in literary works.

formal·ist adj. & n.
formal·istic adj.
formal·isti·cal·ly adv.

formalism [ˈfɔːməˌlɪzəm]
n
1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) scrupulous or excessive adherence to outward form at the expense of inner reality or content
2. (Philosophy / Logic)
a.  the mathematical or logical structure of a scientific argument as distinguished from its subject matter
b.  the notation, and its structure, in which information is expressed
3. (Performing Arts / Theatre) Theatre a stylized mode of production
4. (Philosophy) (in Marxist criticism) excessive concern with artistic technique at the expense of social values, etc.
5. (Philosophy) the philosophical theory that a mathematical statement has no meaning but that its symbols, regarded as physical objects, exhibit a structure that has useful applications Compare logicism, intuitionism
formalist  n
formalistic  adj
formalistically  adv

formalism
a critical emphasis upon style, arrangement, and artistic means with limited attention to content, — formalist, n. — formalistic, adj.
See also: Criticism
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.formalism - the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented
doctrine, ism, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought - a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
imitation - the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
2.formalism - (philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications
philosophy - the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory - a doctrine accepted by adherents to a philosophy
3.formalism - the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms
practice, pattern - a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
Translations
formalism [ˈfɔːməlɪzəm] Nformalismo m
formalism [ˈfɔːrməlɪzəm] nformalisme m
formalism
nFormalismus m
formalism [ˈfɔːməˌlɪzm] nformalismo
formalism [ˈfɔːməˌlɪzm] nformalismo


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
Yet the conjunction of Bochner's apparently dissimilar formalisms suggests that the problem of how "vision is structured" has everything to do with how we choose to define what we are looking at, and with the languages we deem appropriate to articulate those definitions.
 
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