condillac: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic, Historical, Philosophical
Quick answer
What does “condillac” mean?
A proper noun referring to Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, an 18th-century French philosopher of the Enlightenment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, an 18th-century French philosopher of the Enlightenment.
Used to denote his philosophical school of thought (Condillacianism) or his theories, particularly concerning sensationism, the role of language in thought, and the development of ideas from sensory experience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences. Both use the term identically within academic philosophy and history contexts.
Connotations
Connotes a specific historical figure and his empiricist, sensationist philosophy. May imply a critique of innatism and an emphasis on the transformation of sensation into higher mental faculties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, confined to specialised academic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “condillac” in a Sentence
Condillac argued that...According to Condillac, ...The philosophy of Condillac...Condillac's influence on...A key concept in Condillac is...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “condillac” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Condillacian theories were debated widely.
- Her approach has a Condillacian flavour.
American English
- Condillacian theories were debated widely.
- His analysis is fundamentally Condillacian.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, history of ideas, psychology, and epistemology to discuss sensationism, the origin of ideas, and 18th-century French thought.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used as a proper noun referencing a specific historical figure and his body of work.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “condillac”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “condillac”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “condillac”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a condillac').
- Misspelling (Condiliac, Condilliac).
- Pronouncing the final 'c' as /k/ instead of being silent in the French-derived pronunciation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Condillac was an empiricist, specifically a sensationist. He argued that all human knowledge and mental faculties are derived from sensory experience.
It is a famous thought experiment in his 'Treatise on Sensations', where he imagines a statue gradually acquiring senses one by one to demonstrate how complex mental operations arise solely from transformed sensations.
In English academic contexts, it is often anglicised. A common British pronunciation is /ˈkɒndɪjak/. A common American pronunciation, closer to the French, is /ˌkɑːndiːˈjɑːk/.
No, it is an extremely specialised term. Its usage is almost exclusively confined to academic discussions of the history of philosophy, epistemology, and the history of psychology.
A proper noun referring to Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, an 18th-century French philosopher of the Enlightenment.
Condillac is usually academic, historical, philosophical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CONcrete statue of a DILL pickle with an ACcent (Condillac) – it represents a solid, French philosophical figure.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A TRANSFORMER OF SENSATIONS (central to his philosophy).
Practice
Quiz
Condillac is primarily associated with which philosophical concept?