Definition

Noun: 1. A method or approach that selects and combines elements from diverse sources, systems, or styles: The practice of deriving ideas, theories, or styles from a broad and varied range of sources, rather than adhering to a single, unified doctrine or school of thought. 2. The quality or state of being eclectic: The characteristic of being composed of elements drawn from various sources.

Usage

• Eclecticism is used to describe a deliberate and selective approach in fields such as philosophy, art, architecture, music, and methodology.
• It emphasizes the pragmatic selection of what appears to be best or most useful from different systems, rather than strict adherence to one.
• It can function as both a concrete practice (e.g., "His design shows eclecticism") and an abstract concept or quality (e.g., "The eclecticism of her taste is remarkable").

Examples

• The architect's eclecticism is evident in the building, which blends Gothic arches with modernist glass facades.
• Her musical eclecticism means her playlist might include classical, jazz, and electronic music.
• Philosophical eclecticism involves choosing concepts from different thinkers to form a coherent personal worldview.
• Critics praised the exhibition for its bold eclecticism, bringing together works from vastly different periods and cultures.

Advanced Usage

• "A studied eclecticism": Refers to a carefully considered and deliberate practice of selecting from various sources, implying depth of knowledge and intentionality.
  • The curator's studied eclecticism shaped a uniquely compelling narrative for the museum's new wing.
• "To embrace eclecticism": To willingly adopt or accept a diverse, non-doctrinaire approach.
  • The new art movement embraced eclecticism, rejecting the rigid rules of its predecessors.

Variants and Related Words

• Eclectic (adj): Selecting or choosing from various sources. Describing something composed of elements from diverse sources.
  • She has an eclectic taste in literature.
• Eclectically (adv): In an eclectic manner.
  • The room was decorated eclectically with furniture from different decades.

Synonyms

• Selectivity: The quality of carefully choosing from a range of options.
• Catholicity (in taste): Broad or wide-ranging in interests, tastes, or sympathies.
• Diversity (in sourcing): The state of being varied in origin or composition.

Antonyms

• Dogmatism: The tendency to lay down principles as undeniably true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others.
• Orthodoxy: Authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice.
• Purism: Strict adherence to traditional rules or structures, especially in language or style.

Noun

1. making decisions on the basis of what seems best instead of following some single doctrine or style