atomism

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈætəmɪzəm/ UK /ˈætəmɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the doctrine that matter or reality is composed of discrete, ultimately indivisible units

Ancient atomism explained material change as the rearrangement of indivisible particles.
2

noun
a philosophical view that treats facts or entities as logically independent rather than parts of an indivisible whole

Russell's logical atomism analyzed the world into independent facts.
3

noun
a psychological theory that reduces mental life to simple sensations and feelings combined by association

Psychological atomism tried to construct complex ideas from elementary sensations.
4

noun
the view that society is fundamentally composed of individuals rather than irreducible social wholes

Critics argued that social atomism ignored institutions and shared traditions.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the doctrine that matter or... atomic theoryatomistic theory

2 noun · a philosophical view that... logical atomismpluralism

3 noun · a psychological theory that... elementism

4 noun · the view that society is... methodological individualism

Opposites

holismorganicismmonism

Word family

Derived forms atomist atomisticatomistically

Related forms atom pluralismcorpuscularianism

Etymology

Formed from atom + -ism. Atom comes through Latin atomus from Greek atomos, 'uncuttable' or 'indivisible,' from a- ('not') + temnein ('to cut'). The suffix -ism marks a doctrine; the term broadened from physical theories of matter to logical, psychological, and social theories built from discrete units.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# atomism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈætəmɪzəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈætəmɪzəm/

## Meanings
1. the doctrine that matter or reality is composed of discrete, ultimately indivisible units
2. a philosophical view that treats facts or entities as logically independent rather than parts of an indivisible whole
3. a psychological theory that reduces mental life to simple sensations and feelings combined by association
4. the view that society is fundamentally composed of individuals rather than irreducible social wholes

## Examples
- Ancient atomism explained material change as the rearrangement of indivisible particles.
- Russell's logical atomism analyzed the world into independent facts.
- Psychological atomism tried to construct complex ideas from elementary sensations.
- Critics argued that social atomism ignored institutions and shared traditions.

## Synonyms
- atomic theory
- atomistic theory
- elementism
- logical atomism

## Antonyms
- holism
- organicism
- monism

## Derived Forms
- atomist
- atomistic
- atomistically

## Related Forms
- atom
- pluralism
- corpuscularianism

## Etymology
Formed from atom + -ism. Atom comes through Latin atomus from Greek atomos, 'uncuttable' or 'indivisible,' from a- ('not') + temnein ('to cut'). The suffix -ism marks a doctrine; the term broadened from physical theories of matter to logical, psychological, and social theories built from discrete units.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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