1. plural of externalism; philosophical positions or doctrines that locate the basis of meaning, knowledge, or mental content outside the individual mind or subject
Usage: philosophy; formal
2. plural of externalism; excessive concern with or emphasis on external appearances, forms, or rituals rather than inner substance or meaning
Usage: formal

Examples

• Different externalisms in philosophy propose that mental states depend on factors outside the brain.
• The critic argued that the religion had fallen into externalisms, prioritizing ceremony over genuine faith.
• Semantic externalisms suggest that word meanings are determined partly by the external environment.
• The school rejected externalisms in favor of developing students' inner character and critical thinking.
• Contemporary debates in epistemology often center on competing externalisms about knowledge justification.