What is "abstractionism"

n. 1 The creation, principles, or ideals of abstractions, in particular art. (First attested in the mid 20^th century.)(R:SOED5: page=10) 2 The presentation of ideas in an abstract manner. (First attested in the mid 20^th century.)

1. n. an abstract genre of art; artistic content depends on internal form rather than pictorial representation [syn: abstract art]

2. a representation having no reference to concrete objects or specific examples [syn: unrealism]

Abstractionism is the theory that the mind obtains some or all of its concepts by abstracting them from concepts it already has, or from experience. One may, for example, abstract 'green' from a set of experiences which involve green along with other properties. Also, for example, one may abstract a generic concept like 'vegetable' from the already possessed concepts of its instances (carrot, broccoli, onion, etc.). This view was criticized by George Berkeley and Peter Geach.