phenomenalism

[ fi-nom-uh-nl-iz-uhm ]

noun

, Philosophy.

1. the doctrine that phenomena are the only objects of knowledge or the only form of reality.
2. the view that all things, including human beings, consist simply of the aggregate of their observable, sensory qualities.

phenomenalism

/ fɪˈnɒmɪnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. philosophy the doctrine that statements about physical objects and the external world can be analysed in terms of possible or actual experiences, and that entities, such as physical objects, are only mental constructions out of phenomenal appearances Compare idealism realism

Derived Forms

• pheˈnomenalist, nounadjective
• pheˌnomenalˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• phe·nome·nal·ist noun
• phe·nome·nal·istic adjective
• phe·nome·nal·isti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of phenomenalism¹

First recorded in 1860–65; phenomenal + -ism

Example Sentences

Phenomenalism and the need to name is another aspect of the need to control and to draw borders.

From Salon

The proper names for these opposite conceptions are of course Noumenalism and Phenomenalism.

From Project Gutenberg

Phenom′enalism, the philosophical doctrine that the phenomenal and the real are identical—that phenomena are the only realities—also Externalism; Phenom′enalist, one who believes in phenomenalism; Phenomenal′ity, the character of being phenomenal.—adv.

From Project Gutenberg

With Hume, the sensualist theory, so far from giving an account of knowledge, ended in pure phenomenalism, i.e. once more, in scepticism.

From Project Gutenberg

On precisely the same psychological foundation, we have such divergent views of knowledge as idealism, phenomenalism, and agnosticism, with many other strange mixtures of logic, psychology, and metaphysics.

From Project Gutenberg