literalism

Literalism refers to a range of interpretive approaches that prioritize the literal, explicit meaning of words over figurative or symbolic readings. The term is used most often in religion, but also appears in philosophy of language and literary criticism.

Within religious traditions, biblical literalism (sometimes called scriptural inerrancy or plain-sense interpretation) holds that sacred texts convey events, laws and truths in an actual, factual sense, and should be read as they would have been understood by their original audiences. In practice this often entails accepting historical or natural claims at face value and may conflict with scientific or historical criticism. It coexists with other hermeneutical methods in many faith communities; medieval exegesis distinguished the literal sense (sensus literalis) from allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses, showing that the term has a long historical lineage.

Philosophical or linguistic literalism describes the stance that sentences are to be taken at their most direct, context-independent meaning. In practice, most philosophers recognize that language often relies on metaphor, irony, or context; nonetheless, some theorists insist that the literal core of an utterance is essential for analysis, and that figurative readings are secondary. The term also appears in debates about artificial intelligence and semantics.

Critics argue that literalism can neglect context, culture, and intention, leading to misreadings of texts and language. Proponents counter that excessive reliance on metaphor can obscure concrete claims and undermine accountability. The term is often associated with fundamentalism in religious contexts, though its application varies by tradition and scholarly approach.