What does experimentalism mean?
Experimentalism is a noun denoting the principle or practice of relying on experiment and trial rather than fixed theory, authority, or tradition. It appears most often in two domains: in philosophy, where it names the view — associated with the American pragmatist John Dewey — that knowledge and values must be tested through practical experience and revised in light of results; and in the arts, where it describes a deliberate embrace of new, unconventional techniques and forms. A critic might praise the experimentalism of a novelist who abandons linear narrative, while a philosopher might defend experimentalism as the surest route to reliable knowledge. The word carries connotations of open-mindedness, innovation, and courage, though skeptics may use it to imply untested novelty for its own sake. It is chiefly a term of intellectual and cultural commentary rather than everyday speech.
nounThe practice, advocacy of, or belief in the value of experimentation, especially as a method of inquiry or artistic creation; a tendency to try new methods or ideas rather than relying on tradition.
- A commitment to or reliance on experimentation, especially in science, as a method of testing knowledge (e.g. in Dewey's pragmatist philosophy).
- A tendency toward unconventional techniques or new approaches in art, music, literature, or other creative fields.
"The composer's experimentalism made her early work controversial but ultimately influential."
"John Dewey's philosophical experimentalism held that ideas should be tested against their real-world consequences."
"The album's bold experimentalism — tape loops, dissonance, and spoken word — divided critics on release."
Rarely pluralized; the plural is used only when contrasting distinct schools or varieties of experimentalism, such as different movements in art or philosophy.
"The book surveys the various experimentalisms that emerged across twentieth-century avant-garde music."
Experimentalism isn't just doing experiments — it's a whole philosophy that trial and error beats sticking to the rules.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of experimentalism
Experimentalism derives from 'experiment', which comes from Latin 'experiri' meaning 'to try or test', via the Latin-derived 'experimentalis'. The word took shape in English in the nineteenth century, when '-ism' was widely appended to terms naming doctrines and methods. Its use grew alongside modern empirical science and was cemented by the American pragmatists, notably John Dewey, who championed experimentalism as an educational and philosophical method. It shares its root with words such as experience, expert, and peril, all tracing back to the same Latin verb.
Related word forms
How experimentalism is actually used
Experimentalism is an abstract noun, typically used in academic, critical, and intellectual discourse. In philosophy it is strongly associated with pragmatism (especially John Dewey's instrumentalism); in the arts it carries a generally positive connotation of daring and originality, though it can be used neutrally or critically to describe work seen as willfully obscure.
Easily confused with experimentalism
Experimentation refers to the act or process of carrying out experiments, while experimentalism refers to the doctrine, attitude, or tendency favoring experimentation.