formalizmust

Formalizmus, or formalizm, is a term used in several disciplines to denote an approach that emphasizes form, structure, and the rules governing a system over content, function, or external context. The label is applied across fields such as literary theory, art history, musicology, and the philosophy of mathematics, where analysis centers on the internal properties and operations of the object rather than its subject matter or practical meanings.

In literary theory, formalizm often refers to Russian formalism, an early 20th‑century movement that analyzed literary works through devices, narrative techniques, and the architecture of the text. Proponents sought to reveal how form creates meaning, independent of author intention or sociopolitical context. The approach influenced later schools such as the New Criticism, which pursued close reading of texts’ formal features.

In mathematics and the philosophy of science, formalism describes a view that emphasizes formal systems and symbol manipulation. David Hilbert’s program, for example, sought to ground mathematics in axiomatic, rule‑governed processes, with meaning attributed to formal relations rather than to external interpretation. This stance contrasts with logicism and intuitionism, which tie mathematical truth to mental constructs or content.

Reception of formalism has varied. Critics argue it neglects historical, cultural, or semantic dimensions, while supporters maintain that focusing on form exposes the underlying logic and structure of works or theories. The term formalizmus appears in multiple languages with related concepts, reflecting its cross‑disciplinary reach.