outness
Definition
Noun (Philosophy): 1. The quality or state of being external or objective: "outness" refers to the philosophical concept of existing independently of the mind; the property of being an object or reality in the external world. 2. The external world itself: In some contexts, "outness" denotes the realm of objects and phenomena that are outside subjective consciousness.
Usage Examples
- (The quality of being external to the mind.)
- (The external world as distinct from internal thoughts.)
Advanced Usage
"The outness of objects": A phrase used in epistemology to describe the objective reality of things.
- The outness of objects is a foundational concept in realism. (The external existence of objects is a key idea in realist philosophy.)
"Outness and subjectivity": A comparison between external reality and internal mental states.
- Debates about outness often center on whether we can truly know the external world. (Discussions about objective reality focus on the limits of human knowledge.)
Variants and Related Words
- Out (adj/adv/prep): external; away from the inside.
- The cat is out of the house. (The cat is outside the building.)
- Outward (adj): relating to the external or visible aspect.
- Her outward appearance was calm. (Her external look was peaceful.)
Synonyms
- Externality: the state of being outside or external.
- Objectivity: the quality of being based on facts and not influenced by personal feelings.
- Exteriority: the condition of being on the outside.
Related Idioms
- Out of sight, out of mind: a saying meaning that what is not seen is easily forgotten.
- He didn't call for months — out of sight, out of mind. (He was forgotten because he was not present.)
- All out: with maximum effort or completely.
- They went all out to win the game. (They gave their full effort to win.)