realism
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (5)
- the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truthSynonyms: pragmatismType of practicality
- the state of being actual or real“the reality of his situation slowly dawned on him”Synonyms: realityrealnessType of actualityKinds factAttribute of real, unreal
- (philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that physical objects continue to exist when not perceivedSynonyms: naive realismType of philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
- an artistic movement in 19th century France; artists and writers strove for detailed realistic and factual descriptionSynonyms: naturalismType of artistic movement, art movementKinds Socialist realism
- (philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their namesSynonyms: PlatonismType of philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: Cf. F. réalisme.
1. Philos. (a) As opposed to nominalism, the doctrine that genera and species are real things or entities, existing independently of our conceptions. According to realism the Universal exists ante rem (Plato), or in re (Aristotle). (b) As opposed to idealism, the doctrine that in sense perception there is an immediate cognition of the external object, and our knowledge of it is not mediate and representative.
2. Art & Lit. Fidelity to nature or to real life; representation without idealization, and making no appeal to the imagination; adherence to the actual fact.
3. the practise of assessing facts and the probabilities of the consequences of actions in an objective manner; avoidance of unrealistic or impractical beliefs or efforts. Contrasted to idealism, self-deception, overoptimism, overimaginativeness, or visionariness.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors