noun
- the act or process of abstracting or generalizing excessively, removing too many concrete details or practical considerations
Usage: often used critically to describe thinking or analysis that loses touch with reality or practical application
Examples
- The philosopher's overabstraction of the problem made it impossible to apply her theory to real-world situations.
- In mathematics education, overabstraction can confuse students who need concrete examples first.
- The consultant's overabstraction of the business model ignored critical operational details.
- Critics argued that the theory suffered from overabstraction and lacked empirical grounding.
- Teachers must avoid overabstraction when introducing complex concepts to young learners.
- The overabstraction in the policy document made it difficult for local officials to implement effectively.