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the philosophy or doctrines of plato or his followers.
a platonic doctrine or saying.
the belief that physical objects are impermanent representations of unchanging ideas, and that the ideas alone give true knowledge as they are known by the mind.
(sometimes lowercase) the doctrine or practice of platonic love.
historical examples

yet it cannot be expected that every man should accept the faith without reasoning; and here ficino found a place for platonism.
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 10, slice 3 various

platonism is pantheistic in that nature is resolved into g-d.
the approach to philosophy ralph barton perry

platonism was in the air, at least was in the air breathed by an augustine.
the mediaeval mind (volume i of ii) henry osborn taylor

the contact of the church with platonism was on the mystical side.
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 16, slice 8 various

he was also greatly influenced by platonism and zoroastrianism.
the new gresham encyclopedia. vol. 1 part 3 various

the reader will notice the platonism and neo-platonism of all this.
the mediaeval mind (volume ii of ii) henry osborn taylor

it became popular in germany, as platonism, to which it is closely related, became popular in ancient greece.
the life and genius of nathaniel hawthorne frank preston stearns

i could not rest in your platonism—i will tell you why hereafter.
hypatia charles kingsley

as has already been said, the trinitarian scheme has close affinities with platonism.
transcendentalism in new england octavius brooks frothingham

his confusion of platonism with neo-platonism is especially annoying.
john dewey’s logical theory delton thomas howard

noun
the teachings of plato and his followers, esp the philosophical theory that the meanings of general words are real existing abstract ent-ties (forms) and that particular objects have properties in common by virtue of their relationship with these forms compare nominalism, conceptualism, intuitionism
the realist doctrine that mathematical ent-ties have real existence and that mathematical truth is independent of human thought
see neo-platonism
n.

1560s, from plato (see platonic) + -ism.
platonism [(playt-n-iz-uhm)]

the philosophy of plato, or an approach to philosophy resembling his. for example, someone who -sserts that numbers exist independently of the things they number could be called a platonist.