Conceptual approach that draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas
Eclecticism
is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single
paradigm
or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases. However, this is often without conventions or rules dictating how or which theories were combined.
It can sometimes seem inelegant or lacking in simplicity, and eclectics are sometimes criticized for lack of consistency in their thinking. It is, however, common in many fields of study. For example, most
psychologists
accept certain aspects of
behaviorism
, but do not attempt to use the theory to explain all aspects of human behavior.
Eclecticism in
ethics
,
philosophy
,
politics
, and
religion
is often compared to
syncretism
, but the two concepts differ in their approach to combining elements from different traditions. While syncretism in
religion
involves the merging or
assimilation
of several distinct traditions into a new, unified system, eclecticism adopts elements from various systems without necessarily integrating them into a single cohesive framework. This distinction allows for a broader, more inclusive approach in eclecticism, where the selection is based on individual merit or preference rather than an attempt to create a new unified tradition.
Origin
[
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]
Eclecticism was first recorded to have been practiced by a group of
ancient Greek
and
Roman philosophers
who attached themselves to no real system, but selected from existing philosophical beliefs those doctrines that seemed most reasonable to them.
[1]
Out of this collected material they constructed their new system of philosophy. The term comes from the
Greek
?κλεκτικ??
(
eklektikos
), literally "choosing the best",
[2]
[3]
and that from
?κλεκτ??
(
eklektos
), "picked out, select".
[4]
Well known eclectics in
Greek philosophy
were the Stoics
Panaetius
and
Posidonius
, and the
New Academics
Carneades
and
Philo of Larissa
. Among the
Romans
,
Cicero
was thoroughly eclectic, as he united the
Peripatetic
,
Stoic
, and New Academic doctrines. Philo's successor and Cicero's teacher
Antiochus of Ascalon
is credited with influencing the Academy so that it finally transitioned from
Skepticism
to Eclecticism.
[5]
Other eclectics included
Varro
and
Seneca the Younger
.
According to Ro?ker and Suhadolnik, however, even though eclecticism had a Greek origin, the term was rarely used and it was even given a negative connotation by historians of Greek thought, associating it with the description for impure and unoriginal thinking.
[6]
Scholars such as
Clement of Alexandria
maintained that eclecticism had a long history in Greek philosophy and it is underpinned by a deeper metaphysical and theological conviction concerning the
absolute
/God as the source of all noble thoughts and that all parts of the truth can be found among the various philosophical systems.
[7]
Usage
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Architecture and art
[
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The term eclecticism is used to describe the combination, in a single work, of elements from different historical styles, chiefly in architecture and, by implication, in the fine and decorative arts. The term is sometimes also loosely applied to the general stylistic variety of 19th-century architecture after
neoclassicism
(
c.
1820
), although the revivals of styles in that period have, since the 1970s, generally been referred to as aspects of
historicism
.
[9]
Eclecticism plays an important role in critical discussions and evaluations but is somehow distant from the actual forms of the artifacts to which it is applied, and its meaning is thus rather indistinct. The simplest definition of the term?that every work of art represents the combination of a variety of influences?is so basic as to be of little use. In some ways Eclecticism is reminiscent of
Mannerism
in that the term was used pejoratively for much of the period of its currency, although, unlike Mannerism, Eclecticism never amounted to a movement or constituted a specific style: it is characterized precisely by the fact that it was not a particular style.
Martial arts
[
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Some
martial arts
can be described as eclectic in the sense that they borrow techniques from a wide variety of other martial arts.
Philology
[
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]
In
textual criticism
, eclecticism is the practice of examining a wide number of text witnesses and selecting the variant that seems best. The result of the process is a text with readings drawn from many witnesses. In a purely eclectic approach, no single witness is theoretically favored. Instead, the critic forms opinions about individual witnesses, relying on both external and internal evidence.
Since the mid-19th century, eclecticism, in which there is no
a priori
bias to a single manuscript, has been the dominant method of editing the Greek text of the
New Testament
(currently, the
United Bible Society
, 4th ed. and Nestle-Aland, 27th ed.). Even so, the oldest manuscripts, being of the
Alexandrian text-type
, are the most favored, and the critical text has an Alexandrian disposition.
[10]
Philosophy
[
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In
Hellenistic philosophy
, the
Eclectics
used elements from multiple philosophies, texts, life experiences, and their own philosophical ideas. These ideas include life as connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. This movement is closely associated with
Middle Platonism
.
Antiochus of Ascalon
(
c.
125
? c.
69 BC
) was the pupil of
Philo of Larissa
, and the teacher of
Cicero
. Through his influence,
Platonism
transitioned from the
Academic Skepticism
of the
New Academy
to Eclecticism.
[11]
: 273
Whereas Philo had adhered to the
doctrine that there is nothing absolutely certain
, Antiochus abandoned this to support
dogmatism
. Among his objections to skepticism was the consideration that without firm convictions no rational content of life is possible.
[11]
: 273
Antiochus pointed out that it is a contradiction to assert that nothing can be asserted or to prove that nothing can be proved; that we cannot speak of false ideas and at the same time deny the distinction between false and true.
[11]
: 274
He expounded the Academic,
Peripatetic
, and
Stoic
systems in such a way as to show that these three schools deviated from one another only in minor points.
[11]
: 274
Antiochus was chiefly interested in
ethics
, in which he tried to find a middle way between
Zeno of Citium
,
Aristotle
, and
Plato
. For instance, he said that
virtue
suffices for
eudaimonia
, but for the highest grade of happiness, bodily and external goods are necessary as well.
[11]
: 274
This eclectic tendency was enabled by the fact that most of
Plato
's works were non-dogmatic.
[11]
: 305
Middle Platonism was promoted by the necessity of considering the main theories of the post-Platonic schools of philosophy, such as the Aristotelian logic and the Stoic psychology and ethics (theory of goods and emotions).
[11]
: 306
On the one hand the Middle Platonists were engaged like the later Peripatetics in scholarly activities such as the exposition of Plato's doctrines and the explanation of his dialogues; on the other hand they attempted to develop the Platonic theories systematically. In so far as it was subject in this to the influence of
Neopythagoreanism
, it was of considerable importance in preparing the way for
Neoplatonism
.
[11]
: 306
In
modern philosophy
,
Victor Cousin
was the founder of modern Eclecticism.
[12]
Psychology
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Eclecticism is recognized in approaches to
psychology
that see many factors influencing behavior and
cognition
or
psyche
. In the 1970s, psychologists started using whichever approaches and techniques that they deemed appropriate for their client.
[13]
They take multiple perspectives into consideration while identifying, explaining, and changing the behavior of the client.
[13]
See also
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References
[
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]
- ^
Chisholm, Hugh
, ed. (1911).
"Eclecticism"
.
Encyclopædia Britannica
. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 887.
- ^
Encyclopædia Britannica ? in philosophy and theology, the practice of selecting doctrines from different systems of thought without adopting the whole parent system for each doctrine
- ^
?κλεκτικ??
,
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,
A Greek?English Lexicon
, on Perseus Digital Library
- ^
?κλεκτ??
, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,
A Greek?English Lexicon
, on Perseus Digital Library
- ^
Zeller, Eduard (2001).
Outlines of the History of Greek Philosophy, 13th edition
. Oxon: Routledge. p. 253.
ISBN
9781315822976
.
- ^
Ro?ker, Jana; Suhadolnik, Natasa (2011).
The Yields of Transition: Literature, Art and Philosophy in Early Medieval China
. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 229.
ISBN
9781443827140
.
- ^
Ashwin-Siejkowski, Piotr (2008).
Clement of Alexandria: A Project of Christian Perfection
. London: T & T Clark. p. 104.
ISBN
9780567032874
.
- ^
Ghigeanu, M?d?lin (2022).
Curentul Mediteraneean in arhitectura interbelic?
. Vremea. p. 155.
ISBN
978-606-081-135-0
.
- ^
Leonard K. Eaton,
The Architecture of Choice: Eclectism in America, 1880-1910
, 1975
- ^
Aland, B. 1994: 138
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Eduard Zeller
,
Outlines of the History of Greek Philosophy
, 13th Edition
- ^
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
: Brahman to Derrida
, Taylor & Francis, 1998, p. 10: "Victor Cousin's eclectic".
- ^
a
b
"Eclecticism in Therapy | in Chapter 13: Therapies | from Psychology: An Introduction by Russ Dewey"
.
www.intropsych.com
. Retrieved
2017-05-03
.
External links
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