platonism

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: Pla=to=nism

CIDE DICTIONARY

platonism, n. [Cf. F. Platonisme.].

•  The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers.  [1913 Webster]

  " Plato believed God to be an infinitely wise, just, and powerful Spirit; and also that he formed the visible universe out of preëxistent amorphous matter, according to perfect patterns of ideas eternally existent in his own mind. Philosophy he considered as being a knowledge of the true nature of things, as discoverable in those eternal ideas after which all things were fashioned. In other words, it is the knowledge of what is eternal, exists necessarily, and is unchangeable; not of the temporary, the dependent, and changeable; and of course it is not obtained through the senses; neither is it the product of the understanding, which concerns itself only with the variable and transitory; nor is it the result of experience and observation; but it is the product of our reason, which, as partaking of the divine nature, has innate ideas resembling the eternal ideas of God. By contemplating these innate ideas, reasoning about them, and comparing them with their copies in the visible universe, reason can attain that true knowledge of things which is called philosophy. Plato's professed followers, the Academics, and the New Platonists, differed considerably from him, yet are called Platonists."  Murdock.  [1913 Webster]
•  An elevated rational and ethical conception of the laws and forces of the universe; sometimes, imaginative or fantastic philosophical notions.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

platonism, n. the philosophy of Plato or his followers.

Derivative

Platonist n.

ROGET THESAURUS

platonism

Thought

N thought, exercitation of the intellect, exercise of the intellect, intellection, reflection, cogitation, consideration, meditation, study, lucubration, speculation, deliberation, pondering, head work, brain work, cerebration, deep reflection, close study, application, abstract thought, abstraction contemplation, musing, brown study, reverie, Platonism, depth of thought, workings of the mind, thoughts, inmost thoughts, self-counsel self-communing, self- consultation, philosophy of the Absolute, philosophy of the Academy, philosophy of the Garden, philosophy of the lyceum, philosophy of the Porch, association of thought, succession of thought, flow of thought, train of thought, current of thought, association of ideas, succession of ideas, flow of ideas, train of ideas, current of ideas, after thought, mature thought, reconsideration, second thoughts, retrospection, excogitation, examination, invention, thoughtfulness, thinking, thoughtful, pensive, meditative, reflective, museful, wistful, contemplative, speculative, deliberative, studious, sedate, introspective, Platonic, philosophical, lost in thought, deep musing, in the mind, under consideration, all things considered, the mind being on the stretch, the mind turning upon, the head turning upon, the mind running upon, divinely, bent to meditation, en toute chose il faut considerer la fin, fresh- pluckt from bowers of never-failing thought, go speed the stars of Thought, in maiden meditation fancy-free, so sweet is zealous contemplation, the power of thought is the magic of the Mind, those that think must govern those that toil, thought is parent of the deed, thoughts in attitudes imperious, thoughts that breathe and words that burn, vivere est cogitare, Volk der Dichter und Denker.