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Glite Dictionary
intuitionist

intuitionist

1 9.9
About the belief that mathematical truths come from a person's inner sense not formal rules
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪntuˈɪʃənɪst/
  • Formal
: intuicionista
  • In the study of mathematics, an intuitionist approach emphasizes the role of mental images and concepts over formal proofs.

How do you respond to these sorts of moral intuitionist claims?

Examples

  • And sometimes we call this intuitionist ethics, following WD Ross's classic formulation of this, which Audi brings up in this piece.

  • So some of them were core concept videos, mostly on WD Ross's intuitionist moral theory coming from his, his book The Right and the Good.

  • The debate over intuitionist philosophy highlights the importance of moral intuition in ethical decision-making.

  • Many philosophers advocate for an intuitionist perspective, arguing that moral truths can be known through immediate insight.

Synonyms

intuitional
vsintuitionist
  • Formal
1 7.7

Acting by following a feeling rather than careful thinking

is tied to an established philosophical movement rather than general intuition
intuitionistic
vsintuitionist
1 9.9

A kind of math logic that uses direct reasoning instead of classical logic

is specific to a named doctrine in philosophy and mathematics

Antonyms

rationalist
  • Formal
4 7.5

Expressing belief that reason and logic are the best way to know things

empiricist
  • Formal
3 8.1

A person who thinks knowledge comes mostly from experience and observation

Surface Forms

intuitionist positive

Morphology

intuitionist = intuition (semi-transparent) = intuition + ist

Formally built from 'intuition' + the productive suffix '-ist', but the meaning is specialized (philosophy/mathematics) so an average learner may not grasp the technical sense from the base alone.

Etymology

Intuitionist comes from intuition, which means a quick, direct 'feeling' or 'knowing' without long thinking, plus the ending -ist, meaning 'a person who follows a belief or practice'. So an intuitionist is someone who trusts those immediate feelings or insights—especially in philosophy and mathematics, where they often prefer direct mental 'insight' over formal proof.