Formalism
noun
A strong focus on rules, structures, and procedures rather than on the content or context.
His strict formalism in applying the law was frustrating to many.
noun
An approach in art, music, or literature that emphasizes form and structured patterns over expression or emotion.
The painter's work is characterized by a bold formalism, with a heavy emphasis on geometric shapes.
Often appears as...
- emphasize on formalism
- formalism in art
Usage tips
Academic
noun
An approach in philosophy emphasizing symbolic logic, mathematical structures, and objective verification.
His philosophical work is largely based on formalism, with a focus on understanding the nature of symbolic representations.
Often appears as...
- philosophical formalism
- formalism in philosophy
Usage tips
Academic
noun
An approach in mathematics which regards mathematical concepts as formal expressions, disconnected from their intuitive meanings.
The formalism of his mathematical proofs ... they are purely symbolic and do not rely on geometric intuition.
Often appears as...
- mathematical formalism
- formalism in mathematics
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A strong focus on rules, structures, and procedures rather than on the content or context.
His strict formalism in applying the law was frustrating to many.
noun
An approach in art, music, or literature that emphasizes form and structured patterns over expression or emotion.
The painter's work is characterized by a bold formalism, with a heavy emphasis on geometric shapes.
Often appears as...
- emphasize on formalism
- formalism in art
Usage tips
Academic
noun
An approach in philosophy emphasizing symbolic logic, mathematical structures, and objective verification.
His philosophical work is largely based on formalism, with a focus on understanding the nature of symbolic representations.
Often appears as...
- philosophical formalism
- formalism in philosophy
Usage tips
Academic
noun
An approach in mathematics which regards mathematical concepts as formal expressions, disconnected from their intuitive meanings.
The formalism of his mathematical proofs ... they are purely symbolic and do not rely on geometric intuition.
Often appears as...
- mathematical formalism
- formalism in mathematics
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Rule-Oriented
Means focusing on following the rules meticulously, sometimes without considering practical aspects.
The bureaucrat's formalism led to lengthy paperwork.
Pro Tip 2/2Impersonal Approach
Using formalism can make actions seem less personal, as personal feelings are set aside.
His formalism during negotiations made him appear detached.
Pro Tip 1/2Rule-Oriented
Means focusing on following the rules meticulously, sometimes without considering practical aspects.
The bureaucrat's formalism led to lengthy paperwork.
Pro Tip 2/2Impersonal Approach
Using formalism can make actions seem less personal, as personal feelings are set aside.
His formalism during negotiations made him appear detached.
Pro Tip 1/2Rule-Oriented
Means focusing on following the rules meticulously, sometimes without considering practical aspects.
The bureaucrat's formalism led to lengthy paperwork.
Pro Tip 2/2Impersonal Approach
Using formalism can make actions seem less personal, as personal feelings are set aside.
His formalism during negotiations made him appear detached.
Compare with
aestheticismartificialityconformityconservatismformalwearorthodoxypedantrysuperficiality
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Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut that I didn't get from my science activities. In my science activities, I learned by the seat of my pants. Spending 17 years as an astronaut, I learned the NASA formalism of systems engineering as if my life depended on it. Literally.
Quote examples
George Edward Woodberry
American Critic
Art has a double visage: it looks before and after. Romance is its forward-looking face. The germ of growth is in romanticism. Formalism, on the other hand, consolidates tradition; gleans what has been gained and makes it facile to the hand or the mind; economizes the energy of genius.
Quote examples
Peter Greenaway
British Director
It's a big criticism of Greenaway films that they are far too interested in formalism and not enough interested in notions of emotional content. It's a criticism I can fully understand from a public that has been brought up by Hollywood movies that demand intense emotional rapport.
Quote examples
Max Bill
Swiss Architect
Far from creating a new formalism, what these can yield is something far transcending surface values since they not only embody form as beauty, but also form in which intuitions or ideas or conjectures have taken visible substance.
Quote examples
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
American Architect
We refuse to recognize problems of form, but only problems of building. Form is not the aim of our work, but only the result. Form, by itself, does not exist. Form as an aim is formalism; and that we reject.
Quote examples
Charles Bukowski
American Author
I kept writing not because I felt I was so good, but because I felt they were so bad, including Shakespeare, all those. The stilted formalism, like chewing cardboard.
Quote examples
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
American Architect
Form as a goal always ends in formalism. For this striving is directed not towards an inside, but towards an outside. But only a living inside has a living outside.
Quote examples
David Longstreth
American Musician
Bjork has this kind of abstraction and formalism that you associate with art music or avant-garde music.
Quote examples
Felix Adler
German Educator
The exercises of our meeting are to be simple and devoid of all ceremonial and formalism.
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut that I didn't get from my science activities. In my science activities, I learned by the seat of my pants. Spending 17 years as an astronaut, I learned the NASA formalism of systems engineering as if my life depended on it. Literally.
Quote examples
George Edward Woodberry
American Critic
Art has a double visage: it looks before and after. Romance is its forward-looking face. The germ of growth is in romanticism. Formalism, on the other hand, consolidates tradition; gleans what has been gained and makes it facile to the hand or the mind; economizes the energy of genius.
Quote examples
Peter Greenaway
British Director
It's a big criticism of Greenaway films that they are far too interested in formalism and not enough interested in notions of emotional content. It's a criticism I can fully understand from a public that has been brought up by Hollywood movies that demand intense emotional rapport.
Quote examples
Max Bill
Swiss Architect
Far from creating a new formalism, what these can yield is something far transcending surface values since they not only embody form as beauty, but also form in which intuitions or ideas or conjectures have taken visible substance.
Quote examples
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
American Architect
We refuse to recognize problems of form, but only problems of building. Form is not the aim of our work, but only the result. Form, by itself, does not exist. Form as an aim is formalism; and that we reject.
Quote examples
Charles Bukowski
American Author
I kept writing not because I felt I was so good, but because I felt they were so bad, including Shakespeare, all those. The stilted formalism, like chewing cardboard.
Quote examples
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
American Architect
Form as a goal always ends in formalism. For this striving is directed not towards an inside, but towards an outside. But only a living inside has a living outside.
Quote examples
David Longstreth
American Musician
Bjork has this kind of abstraction and formalism that you associate with art music or avant-garde music.
Quote examples
Felix Adler
German Educator
The exercises of our meeting are to be simple and devoid of all ceremonial and formalism.
Example 1 of 9
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