Dictionary

algebraism en · NOUN

Etymology

From algebra + -ism.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The use of abstract logic and symbol manipulation as opposed to empirical observation.
   • It is on the basis of the synthesis of algebraism and scientific experiment that one may correctly designate the rationalistic revival implied in the doctrines of Einstein. 1951, Paul Arthur Schilpp, Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist, page 572:
   • Empiricism in natural philosophy was matched by an advanced algebraism in mathematical thinking . The Russellian reformation, which actually amounted to a convergence of trends and experiments that had been going on throughout the nineteenth century , resulted in what might be characterized as a renewed , “ metaphysical ” — perhaps even a mystical— grounding for the philosophy of number. 1988, Carl A. Raschke, Theological Thinking, page 31:
   • Our dissatisfaction with algebraism arises from what we believe to be a reasonable skepticism concerning the arbitrary production of fictions for the sake of systematic neatness. We favor hunter-tatherer ontology, based on empirical evidence, rather than armchair ontology based on permutations and combinations. 2013, Katherine Munn, Barry Smith, Applied Ontology: An Introduction, page 77:
   • Writing is an illness we cannot treat but only recover from. Our interests in dialog, poetry, and orality are vectors of a single urge to recover a sounding sense deadened by algebraisms without the sense of sound or the sound of sense. 1992, George E. Marcus, Rereading Cultural Anthropology, page 5:
   • In fact, Jakobson is partly responsible for many misunderstandings about so-called abstractions and algebraisms in Hjelmslev 's linguistic research. 1986, Nils Århammar, Aspects of Language: Theoretical and applied semantics, page 377:

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