impersonalismn.
/(ˌ)ɪmˈpəːsn̩əlɪz(ə)m/, /(ˌ)ɪmˈpəːsn̩l̩ɪz(ə)m/, /(ˌ)ɪmˈpəːsənl̩ɪz(ə)m/, /(ˌ)ɪmˈpəːs(ə)nəlɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ᵻmˈpərs(ə)nəˌlɪz(ə)m/ 1. Any of various theories or approaches which reduce or reject the importance of the individual (as a being, focus, subject, author, etc.). Cf. personalism n. 3a.In quot. 1872: (Theology) a theory or belief that God or a god does not have the nature of, or manifest as, a person or other entity with self-awareness; cf. impersonal adj. 3a.
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1846 Harbinger 10 Jan. 76/1 ‘The key to Emerson's entire nature and philosophy is love.’ A far more probable account of the matter..then [sic] all this which you have to say about ‘egoism’, and ‘impersonalism’.
1872 J. R. Leifchild Higher Ministry Nature viii. 144 The extinction of the idea of a personal Creator and Governor of the universe is either complete or tending to completion in their minds, and..in days to come impersonalism may be more plainly and authoritatively proposed to general acceptance than at present.
1907 Philos. Rev. 16 322 Impersonalism, the mechanical world-theory, asserts that nothing exists beyond aggregates of simple elements and combinations of simple occurrences.
1940 Harvard Theol. Rev. 33 37 Nietzsche rebelled against impersonalism in politics, economics, and science on behalf of the individual.
1972 M. B. Mahowald Idealistic Pragmatism iv. 53 While the goal described by Royce smacks of an impersonalism that might impede individuality, he nonetheless maintains that in the midst of pursuing this Universal Ideal which unites the separate selves we must be very careful of every soul.
2009 Rev. Metaphysics 62 884 Sen is keen to preserve an impersonalism that does not let the identities of individuals play a role in evaluative considerations.
2. The quality, character, or fact of being impersonal (in various senses of the adjective); esp. lack or absence of personal connection or relationships.
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1877 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 19 Apr. (headline) Impersonalism in Work and Duty.
1908 Daily Chron. 26 May 3/4 The workmen are getting the impersonalism of Socialism without its humanity.
1963 Bull. Atomic Scientists June 29/2 The increasing complexity and impersonalism of social interaction.
2015 Atlantic Online (Nexis) 8 Oct. We needed the impersonalism and sameness of the faceless McDonald's, a red-and-glass box atop asphalt.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1846