formalizmi

Formalizmi, or formalism, is a family of theories and methods that assign primary importance to form, structure, rules, or symbolic systems over content, context, or material meaning. It appears in literature, art, music, philosophy, mathematics, and scientific analysis, often aiming to reveal internal patterns.

In literary criticism, formalism treats a work as an autonomous system whose meaning arises from its devices, structure, language, and stylistic features rather than from author intent or social background. Russian Formalism (c. 1910s–1920s) introduced concepts such as ostranenie (defamiliarization), while the New Criticism in the United States emphasized close reading of the text itself.

In art criticism, formalism stresses visual elements—line, color, composition, and technique—over subject matter. In music, formalist analysis concentrates on form, harmony, rhythm, and development, rather than on narrative or extra-musical associations. Clement Greenberg is a commonly cited advocate in modern painting.

In ethics and philosophy, formalism can denote rules-based approaches that highlight the formal properties of actions or judgments. Kantian deontology is often described as formalist, stressing universal maxims and the moral law over particular consequences.

In mathematics and logic, formalism (as developed by Hilbert and others) treats mathematics as a study of symbol manipulation within formal systems defined by axioms and inference rules, seeking consistency and completeness rather than interpreting content.

Critics argue that formalism neglects historical context, social factors, and meaning beyond structure; supporters contend it clarifies method and reveals essential features of works and systems. The term spans disciplines with varying emphases, making precise definitions field-specific.