English noun: atomism | |||
1. | atomism (cognition) (psychology) a theory that reduces all mental phenomena to simple elements (sensations and feelings) that form complex ideas by association | ||
Broader (hypernym) | scientific theory | ||
Domain category | psychological science, psychology | ||
2. | atomism (cognition) (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles | ||
Samples | The ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe. | ||
Synonyms | atomic theory, atomist theory, atomistic theory | ||
Broader (hypernym) | theory | ||
Domain category | chemical science, chemistry | ||
Antonyms | holism, holistic theory | ||