exemplarism
C2 (Very Low Frequency)Formal, Academic, Philosophical
Definition
Meaning
A philosophical or ethical doctrine holding that moral ideals are embodied in exemplary individuals or models to be imitated.
A methodology or theory that emphasises learning or understanding through the study of concrete, exemplary cases rather than abstract principles alone. In educational contexts, it refers to teaching by example.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a theoretical or specialist term. It denotes both a philosophical stance about the nature of ideals and a practical approach to teaching or modelling behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. The term is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a formal, scholarly connotation in both dialects. May imply a slightly traditional or virtue-ethics approach.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Likely encountered only in specialised philosophical, ethical, or pedagogical literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun] is a form of exemplarism.The philosophy advocates exemplarism.His teaching method relies on exemplarism.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, ethics, theology, and educational theory to describe approaches centred on exemplary figures or cases.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used or understood.
Technical
A precise term within specific scholarly discourses.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The professor's teaching style could be described as a form of exemplarism, using historical figures to illustrate complex ideas.
- The article discussed whether moral education is best achieved through rules or through exemplarism.
- Her thesis critiqued the limitations of pure Kantian deontology, proposing instead a neo-Aristotelian exemplarism centred on phronesis and character.
- The philosopher's defence of exemplarism argues that we comprehend virtues like courage primarily through narratives about courageous individuals, not through abstract definitions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EXEMPLAR (a perfect example) + ISM (a doctrine or system). It's the 'ism' of following exemplars.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEALS ARE PERSONS (Moral virtues are understood and accessed through the study of specific virtuous people).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "примерность" (примерность - это quality of being an example).
- Следует переводить как "экземпляризм" (философский термин) или "учение об образцах/подражании образцам".
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'exemplary' (adj.).
- Using it as a synonym for any 'good example'.
- Misspelling as 'examplarism'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'exemplarism' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialised term used almost exclusively in academic philosophy, ethics, and educational theory.
No, the word itself is a noun. The related adjective is 'exemplary' or the phrase 'exemplaristic' (though the latter is even rarer).
The core idea is that understanding complex ideals (like 'goodness' or 'justice') is best achieved not through abstract rules alone, but through the study of concrete, exemplary instances or persons who embody those ideals.
While not exclusively tied to one figure, the concept is often discussed in relation to Aristotle's emphasis on practical wisdom (phronesis) and character, and in Christian theology regarding the imitation of Christ (imitatio Christi). Contemporary philosopher Linda Zagzebski has developed a modern 'exemplarist moral theory'.