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/aɪdˈilɪzəm/ Listen

Idealism

noun

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that ideas are the only reality.

Impracticality by virtue of thinking of things in their ideal form rather than as they really are.

Elevated ideals or conduct; the quality of believing that ideals should be pursued. Synonyms: high-mindedness, noble-mindedness.

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Etymology of 'Idealism'

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"Idealism" Quotes from Famous Books

... metaphysical speculation. There is scarcely an hypothesis advanced by philosophers in ancient or modern times, which may not be found in the Brahmanical writings. "We find in the writings of these Hindus materialism, atomism, pantheism, Pyrrhonism, idealism. They anticipated Plato, Kant, and Hegel. They could boast of their Spinozas and their Humes long before Alexander dreamed of crossing the Indus. From them the Pythagoreans borrowed a great part of their mystical philosophy, of their doctrine of transmigration of souls, and the unlawfulness ...

— Beacon Lights of History, Volume I • John Lord

... the happiness of a man who feels that he has been called to some purpose worth while. His companion hesitated to interrupt his thoughts; her somewhat drab business experience made her pessimistic toward all idealism, and yet she felt that here, surely, was a man who could carry almost any project through to success. The unique quality in him, which distinguished him from any other man she had ever known, was his complete unselfishness. ...

— Dennison Grant - A Novel of To-day • Robert Stead

... Hayter's news brought him face to face with that inner problem which had so suddenly become the dominant factor in his life. For the first time he knew what love was. He felt the wonder of it, the far-reaching possibilities, the strange idealism called so unexpectedly into being. He recognized the vagaries of Philippa's disposition, and yet, during the last few days, he had convinced himself that she was beginning to care. Her strained relations ...

— The Zeppelin's Passenger • E. Phillips Oppenheim

... responsible for it in its early years were, for the most part, lawyers and politicians, lacking even the actual experience in educational matters which the clergymen of that time were supposed to have; but there is evidence of an idealism and confidence in the future on their part which must explain the eventual success of the University,—a vision which enabled it to become the model ...

— The University of Michigan • Wilfred Shaw

... had suffered enough—but to have this imaginary Bessy called from the grave, dressed in a semblance of self-devotion and idealism, to see her petty impulses of vindictiveness disguised as the motions of a lofty spirit—it was as though her small malicious ghost had devised this way of punishing the wife who had ...

— The Fruit of the Tree • Edith Wharton

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