Definition of the word abstraction

The word "abstraction" has its roots in Latin "abstractio," which means "taking away" or "withdrawal." In philosophy, the concept of abstraction refers to the process of deriving a general concept or idea from specific instances or phenomena. This concept was first introduced by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and later developed by philosophers such as René Descartes and John Locke. The term "abstraction" was first used in English in the 15th century, derived from the Latin "abstractio." Initially, it meant "the act of abstracting or separating from concrete reality." Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to encompass various fields, including philosophy, mathematics, and art, where it refers to the process of selecting and isolating essential features of an object or concept, and representing them in a simplified or idealized form.