idealism
/aɪˈdiːəlɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /aɪˈdiːəlɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌliz-əm ˈī-(ˌ)dē-/ (ame, mw)
idealism — noun
1. the attitude of a person who keeps working towards what they believe is right an
the attitude of a person who keeps working towards what they believe is right and good, even when success seems very difficult or unlikely
Yuki's idealism led her to work long hours for a fair-trade charity that barely paid her.
idealism + led + to-infinitive purpose
After twenty years in politics, Raj still spoke with the same idealism he had as a student activist.
Architect Thiago showed his idealism by designing energy-saving buildings even when clients asked for cheaper options.
Critics dismissed the proposal as driven by youthful idealism rather than practical business sense.
Priya's idealism made her believe that quality education could solve even the deepest social problems.
- optimism
broader term; refers to expecting good outcomes, not necessarily acting on principles
- utopianism
focuses on imagining a perfect society; often implies an unrealistic or impractical blueprint
- perfectionism
demands flawlessness in details, whereas idealism targets large moral or social goals
用法筆記
The word can carry mild criticism (suggesting naivety) or admiration (suggesting integrity), depending on context. Frequently modified by youthful, political, or romantic.
常見錯誤
2. a philosophical position that says the world we experience is made up of ideas i
a philosophical position that says the world we experience is made up of ideas in our minds, and that there is no way to prove that anything exists independently of our thoughts or perception
Chidi found it hard to accept philosophical idealism, because the chair he sat on felt undeniably real.
contrast: idealism vs. common sense
Elena wrote her thesis comparing Kant's transcendental idealism with modern scientific realism.
collocation: transcendental idealism
In Berkeley's version of idealism, nothing exists unless a mind perceives it — even a tree falling in the forest.
The professor explained that idealism does not deny the world we see; it argues that what we see is shaped by our minds.
Amina found the arguments for idealism more convincing after reading how our brains actively construct what we call reality.
- Platonism
a specific form of idealism holding that ideal Forms exist beyond the physical world
- rationalism
related but distinct; emphasizes reason as the source of knowledge
- materialism
the belief that only physical matter is real
- empiricism
the view that all knowledge comes from sensory experience of the physical world
用法筆記
Often paired with a qualifying prefix that names a specific school: transcendental idealism (Kant), absolute idealism (Hegel), subjective idealism (Berkeley). The opposite view is materialism or realism.