Insubstantiality: meaning, definitions and examples
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insubstantiality
[ ˌɪn.səˈstæn.ʃəl.ɪ.ti ]
philosophy, existence
Insubstantiality refers to the quality or state of being insubstantial, which means lacking substance or reality. It often pertains to concepts or ideas that are not tangible or do not have physical presence, making them difficult to define or quantify.
Synonyms
immateriality, intangibility, lack of substance.
Examples of usage
- The insubstantiality of her arguments left room for doubt.
- Philosophers often debate the insubstantiality of material existence.
- He questioned the insubstantiality of dreams compared to reality.
Translations
Translations of the word "insubstantiality" in other languages:
🇵🇹 insubstancialidade
🇮🇳 अस्थानिकता
🇩🇪 Unsubstantialität
🇮🇩 ketidakberdayaan
🇺🇦 незначність
🇵🇱 nieistotność
🇯🇵 無実性
🇫🇷 insubstantialité
🇪🇸 insustancialidad
🇹🇷 önemsizlik
🇰🇷 무형성
🇸🇦 عدم الجدية
🇨🇿 nehmotnost
🇸🇰 nehmotnosť
🇨🇳 无实体性
🇸🇮 neotipljivost
🇮🇸 óveruleika
🇰🇿 негізсіздік
🇬🇪 არამატერიალური
🇦🇿 maddəliksiz
🇲🇽 insustancialidad
Etymology
The term 'insubstantiality' originates from the Medieval Latin 'insubstantialis', which is derived from the Latin word 'substantia', meaning 'substance'. The prefix 'in-' indicates negation, thus 'insubstantial' essentially means 'not having substance'. Over time, the term evolved within various philosophical and metaphysical discussions, particularly in the realm of ontological debates regarding existence and reality. It has been used to describe ideas or entities that lack independent existence or are perceived as ephemeral and fleeting. The concept often surfaces in discussions about perception, reality, and the nature of the universe, especially in contexts that question the nature of existence itself.