Intuitionist

An intuitionist is someone who believes that certain truths, especially moral or mathematical ones, are known through immediate, non-inferential apprehension rather than through reason or empirical evidence. They prioritize subjective understanding and direct insight. In ethics, intuitionists believe in the existence of self-evident moral principles, while in mathematics, they may reject logical constructs that are not intuitively clear, focusing on the immediate understanding of mathematical objects. They are often skeptical of detailed logical proofs, instead relying on inner conviction.

Intuitionist meaning with examples

• The moral philosopher argued that we are all intuitionists at heart, as we often make quick ethical judgments based on gut feelings rather than complex reasoning. "The inherent goodness of human nature and the evil of doing harm is intuitively known"
• As a judge, she acted as an intuitionist. Sometimes she used logical precedence to decide a case, but the justice and moral implications of a situation sometimes caused her to look for intuitive reasoning.
• The mathematician, an intuitionist, rejected the proof by contradiction, as the idea of infinity without direct construction felt counterintuitive, so he looked for another more logical route, the intuition of right and wrong, was his moral guiding light.
• The art critic identified the artist as an intuitionist, noting their ability to convey complex emotions directly, bypassing the need for detailed narrative or symbolic representations. They use their artistic intuition in their work.