phenomenalism
/fɪˈnɑmənəˌlɪzəm/
noun
- A philosophical theory that only physical objects and events that can be observed or experienced by the senses exist or are real.
- Phenomenalism argues that tables and chairs are just collections of sensory experiences.
- Many critics of phenomenalism say it fails to account for objects when no one is observing them.
- The professor explained phenomenalism as the view that reality is limited to what we perceive.