Platonism
noun
Pla·to·nism
ˈplā-tə-ˌni-zəm 
1
a
: the philosophy of Plato stressing especially that actual things are copies of transcendent ideas and that these ideas are the objects of true knowledge apprehended by reminiscence
b
2
Examples of Platonism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lorenzo, his grandson, who came to unofficial power in 1469, wrote a long philosophical poem about his conversion to Platonism.
—
Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
These assertions, whether Platonism, the simulation hypothesis or my insane-god theology, can easily become escapist and nihilistic.
—John Horgan, Scientific American, 14 June 2022
Other scholars—especially those working in other branches of science—view Platonism with skepticism.
—Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2020
For the purposes of human population genetics and phylogenetics the main issue is the historical and cognitive bias toward Platonism and types.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2012
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Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
These assertions, whether Platonism, the simulation hypothesis or my insane-god theology, can easily become escapist and nihilistic.
—John Horgan, Scientific American, 14 June 2022
Other scholars—especially those working in other branches of science—view Platonism with skepticism.
—Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2020
For the purposes of human population genetics and phylogenetics the main issue is the historical and cognitive bias toward Platonism and types.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Platonism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Platonism. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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