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Glite Dictionary
mentalism

mentalism

2 9.9
The idea that mind or awareness is the most real thing and objects are only parts of it
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛn.təl.ɪ.zəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : mentalismo
  • The law of mentalism, it states the all is mind, the universe is mental.

Examples

  • International Magic Presents: The Derren Brown Lecture is an 80-minute lecture DVD of close-up mentalism and subsequent discussion of various aspects of Brown's performance.

    Blog text (16)

  • The second looks at psychological card routines and shows a distinct move towards mentalism, for which he is now known.

    Blog text (16)

  • When this stage has been reached, mentalism will be stone dead, and the problem of mind and its relation to the body will have solved itself.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Though his performances of mind-reading and other feats of mentalism may appear to be the result of psychic or paranormal practices, he claims no such abilities and frequently denounces those who do.

    Blog text (16)

  • Many performers use mentalism to create the illusion of mind reading during their shows.

  • The philosophy of mentalism suggests that consciousness shapes our perception of reality.

  • In his lecture, the magician explained how mentalism combines psychology with theatrical techniques.

Synonyms

idealism
vsmentalism
  • Specialized
4 8.7

Reality exists because of the mind and ideas, not independent physical things

holds that mind or consciousness is the fundamental reality rather than objects
immaterialism
vsmentalism
  • Formal
9.9

A belief that only minds and ideas are real, not physical things

emphasizes mind or consciousness as the fundamental reality rather than general nonphysical things

Antonyms

materialism
  • Specialized
5 7.4

The belief that only physical things are real and minds come from them

Surface Forms

mentalism singular
mentalisms plural

Morphology

mentalism = mental (transparent) = mental + ism

The adjective 'mental' plus the productive suffix '-ism' yields a doctrine or theory relating to mind, so the derivation is straightforward.

Etymology

The word mentalism comes from the Latin root ment- meaning 'mind', the same root you see in the word mental, plus the ending -ism meaning 'a belief or system'. So mentalism is the view that the mind is the basic reality and that the world depends on mental experience.