1. The philosophical doctrine that abstract objects (such as numbers, properties, and propositions) exist independently of the physical world and human minds.
Usage: philosophy; often capitalized when referring to the school of Plato
2. A spiritual or intellectual love or relationship that is not physical or romantic.
Usage: derived from Plato's concept of love in the Symposium

Examples

• In platonism, mathematical truths exist in an abstract realm independent of human discovery.
• The philosopher argued that platonism better explains why mathematics is so effective in describing reality.
• Their relationship was based on platonism—a deep intellectual and emotional connection without romance.
• Platonism has influenced Western philosophy for over two thousand years since Plato's time.
• Critics of platonism question how abstract objects can exist without physical instantiation.
• She maintained a platonism with her colleague, valuing their intellectual partnership above all else.