What does preformationism mean?
Preformationism is the doctrine that certain structures or principles are present before experience and help determine its form. Its best-known philosophical use is associated with Immanuel Kant, who argued that the mind contributes a priori forms and categories through which experience is organized. Thus, the mind does not simply receive reality as a passive impression; it helps make experience intelligible and coherent. The term also has an older biological sense. Early proponents of biological preformationism believed that a miniature organism was already present in the germ and developed chiefly by enlargement, rather than having its parts progressively formed. This biological theory differs from epigenetic accounts of development, although both can occur in different intellectual contexts. Today, preformationism is mainly encountered in philosophy and histories of science. It is useful for discussing the priority of mental structure and the historically influential idea that development begins from an already organized form.
nounPreformationism is the doctrine that the structures or organizing principles of the mind exist prior to, and help shape, experience. In an older biological sense, it refers to the theory that an organism develops by enlarging an already formed miniature rather than through progressive differentiation.
- The philosophical doctrine that certain structures, categories, or organizing principles of the mind precede experience and shape its organization, especially as associated with Immanuel Kant.
- The historical biological theory that an organism's development begins with a minute, fully formed version of the organism and proceeds through enlargement, rather than through the progressive differentiation of initially simpler parts.
"Kantian preformationism holds that the mind's a priori structures help determine how experience is organized."
"Kantian preformationism argues that experience is not passively received but organized through a priori structures of understanding."
"The theory of preformationism in early modern biology was eventually displaced by developmental accounts based on epigenesis."
The plural is grammatical but rarely needed because the word usually refers to a specific doctrine or school.
"Modern histories of science compare philosophical preformationisms with earlier theories of biological development."
Kant made the startling claim that the mind helps supply the structure of experience.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does preformationism come from?
Preformationism was formed in English from the prefix pre-, the noun formation, and the suffix -ism, expressing a doctrine or theory of prior formation. Formation itself comes through French from Latin formatio, a noun derived from formare, “to shape” or “form,” from forma, “shape.” The philosophical sense developed from discussions of forms and principles that exist prior to experience, while the biological sense names the earlier theory of a preformed organism. The shared Latin root also connects the word with cognates such as formation, formative, transformation, and reform.
Related word forms
How preformationism is actually used
This is an uncommon academic term. In philosophy it normally denotes a position associated with Kant; in the history of biology it denotes an early theory of organismal development. The two senses should be identified clearly by context.
Easily confused with preformationism
Preformation names the underlying doctrine or state of being formed in advance, while preformationism specifically names the theory or doctrine itself.