Platonism

2 definitions found

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

  Platonism \Pla"to*nism\, n. [Cf. F. Platonisme.]
     1. The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Plato believed God to be an infinitely wise, just, and
           powerful Spirit; and also that he formed the visible


           universe out of pre["e]xistent amorphous matter,
           according to perfect patterns of ideas eternally
           existent in his own mind. Philosophy he considered as
           being a knowledge of the true nature of things, as
           discoverable in those eternal ideas after which all
           things were fashioned. In other words, it is the
           knowledge of what is eternal, exists necessarily, and
           is unchangeable; not of the temporary, the dependent,
           and changeable; and of course it is not obtained
           through the senses; neither is it the product of the
           understanding, which concerns itself only with the
           variable and transitory; nor is it the result of
           experience and observation; but it is the product of
           our reason, which, as partaking of the divine nature,
           has innate ideas resembling the eternal ideas of God.
           By contemplating these innate ideas, reasoning about
           them, and comparing them with their copies in the
           visible universe, reason can attain that true knowledge
           of things which is called philosophy. Plato's professed
           followers, the Academics, and the New Platonists,
           differed considerably from him, yet are called
           Platonists. --Murdock.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An elevated rational and ethical conception of the laws
        and forces of the universe; sometimes, imaginative or
        fantastic philosophical notions.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Platonism
       n : (philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract
           concepts exist independent of their names [syn: {realism}]