Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality of being inward or internal; the state of existing within: This refers to the characteristic of being inside or internal, often in a physical or metaphorical sense.
   • Preoccupation with one's own inner life, thoughts, or feelings; introspection: A deep focus on one's internal state, personal attitudes, ethical values, or spiritual nature.
   • The most essential, central, or vital part of something; the core or essence: The fundamental nature or most important aspect of an idea, experience, or argument.

Usage Examples

• Referring to an internal quality or state:
  • The inwardness of the body's organs makes them protected.
  • She contemplated the inwardness of her emotions.
• Referring to introspection or preoccupation with inner values:
  • His poetry is known for its profound inwardness and self-reflection.
  • Philosophical inwardness involves examining one's ethical principles.
• Referring to the essential core of something:
  • The critic grasped the inwardness of the novel's theme.
  • Understanding the inwardness of the problem is key to solving it.

Advanced Usage

• "Philosophical inwardness": A term describing a deep, reflective focus on the inner self and subjective experience, often associated with thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard.
  • Kierkegaard emphasized the importance of philosophical inwardness for authentic existence.
• "Ethical inwardness": The state where moral values and decisions originate from deep personal conviction rather than external rules.
  • The character's struggle demonstrated a move toward ethical inwardness.

Variants and Related Words

• Inward (adj): Located inside; directed toward the inside; of or relating to the mind or spirit.
  • She took an inward journey to find peace.
• Inwardly (adv): In one's mind or spirit; privately.
  • He was inwardly conflicted about the decision.

Synonyms

• Introspection: The examination of one's own thoughts and feelings.
• Essence: The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something.
• Core: The central or most important part.
• Subjectivity: The quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings and perspectives.

Related Phrases

• Turn inward: To direct one's attention to one's own thoughts and feelings.
  • After the crisis, she needed to turn inward and reflect.
• Depth of inwardness: A phrase indicating a profound level of introspection or spiritual depth.
  • The meditation retreat aimed to achieve a greater depth of inwardness.

Related Idioms

• Know in one's inward parts: To know or feel something deeply and intuitively. (A literary or archaic idiom)
  • She knew in her inward parts that the decision was wrong.

Noun

1. preoccupation with what concerns human inner nature (especially ethical or ideological values)
   • Socrates' inwardness, integrity, and inquisitiveness- H.R.Finch
2. the quality or state of being inward or internal
   • the inwardness of the body's organs
3. preoccupation especially with one's attitudes and ethical or ideological values
   • the sensitiveness of James's characters, their seeming inwardness
   • inwardness is what an Englishman quite simply has, painlessly, as a birthright
4. the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
   • the gist of the prosecutor's argument
   • the heart and soul of the Republican Party
   • the nub of the story