logicism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / SpecializedAcademic / Technical / Philosophical
Quick answer
What does “logicism” mean?
The philosophical doctrine that mathematics, or at least some significant part of it, is reducible to or an extension of formal logic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The philosophical doctrine that mathematics, or at least some significant part of it, is reducible to or an extension of formal logic.
In broader terms, an excessive reliance on or adherence to logical or formal reasoning, often at the expense of other considerations like intuition, context, or empirical observation. Can imply a rigid, rule-bound approach.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage is uniformly academic and specialized.
Connotations
In philosophical contexts, neutral. In extended critical use, can carry a negative connotation of inflexibility or oversimplification.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse in both regions. Usage confined almost entirely to academic philosophy departments.
Grammar
How to Use “logicism” in a Sentence
Logicism holds that...The central tenet of logicism is...He argued against logicism on the grounds that...A proponent of logicismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “logicism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The project aims to logicise arithmetic.
American English
- He sought to logicize the foundations of mathematics.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- The logicist programme faced significant obstacles.
American English
- Her logicist arguments were met with rigorous criticism.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core usage. Found in philosophy of mathematics, logic, and history of analytic philosophy journals and texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used precisely within the technical vocabulary of mathematical philosophy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “logicism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “logicism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “logicism”
- Confusing 'logicism' with being 'logical' in the everyday sense.
- Using it to describe a person who is merely rational instead of referencing the philosophical doctrine.
- Misspelling as 'logicistism'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Logicism' is a specific philosophical thesis about the foundation of mathematics. Being 'logical' is a general trait of reasoning correctly.
Gottlob Frege and Bertrand Russell (in his early work with Alfred North Whitehead on 'Principia Mathematica') are the central figures.
Most philosophers and logicians agree that pure logicism, as originally conceived, failed. Kurt Gödel's incompleteness theorems and other issues showed that not all of mathematics can be reduced to logic alone.
Yes, but it's rare and metaphorical. It might be used critically to describe an overly rigid, rule-based approach that ignores nuance, intuition, or practical context (e.g., 'The manager's logicism stifled creative solutions').
The philosophical doctrine that mathematics, or at least some significant part of it, is reducible to or an extension of formal logic.
Logicism is usually academic / technical / philosophical in register.
Logicism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɑː.dʒɪ.sɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specialized term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LOGICism: It's the ISM (doctrine) that says LOGIC is the foundation of Mathematics.
Conceptual Metaphor
MATHEMATICS IS LOGIC; FOUNDATIONALISM AS A BUILDING (with logic as the foundation).
Practice
Quiz
In which academic field is the term 'logicism' primarily used?