Formalism

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Formalism \Form"al*ism\ (f[^o]rm"al*[i^]z'm), n.
     The practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or
     dependence on, external forms, esp. in matters of religion.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Official formalism.                      --Sir H.


                                                    Rawlinson.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  formalism
       n 1: the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is
            what should be represented [ant: {imitation}]
       2: (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
       3: the practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or
          external forms