Hypertext Webster Gateway: "idealism"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Idealism \I*de"al*ism\, n.
The practice or habit of giving or attributing ideal form or
character to things; treatment of things in art or literature
according to ideal standards or patterns; -- opposed to
{realism}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Idealism \I*de"al*ism\, n. [Cf. F. id['e]alisme.]
1. The quality or state of being ideal.
2. Conception of the ideal; imagery.
3. (Philos.) The system or theory that denies the existence
of material bodies, and teaches that we have no rational
grounds to believe in the reality of anything but ideas
and their relations.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
idealism
n 1: the doctrine that ideas are the only reality
2: impracticality by virtue of thinking of things in their
ideal form rather than as they really are
3: elevated ideals or conduct; the quality of believing that
ideals should be pursued [syn: {high-mindedness}, {noble-mindedness}]
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