Abstractionism is the theory that the mind obtains some or all of its concepts by abstracting them from concepts it already has, or from experience. Abstractionism has its roots in Aristotle's writings, particularly those rejecting the Platonic theory of Forms. They were adopted and developed further by the Scholastics so that the doctrine became entrenched in the seventeenth century. Abstract art, as a form of abstractionism, uses visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. The sources from which individual artists draw their theoretical arguments are diverse, and reflect the social and intellectual preoccupations in all areas of culture at our time.