positivism

[ poz-i-tuh-viz-uhm ]

noun

1. the state or quality of being positive; definiteness; assurance.
2. a philosophical system founded by Auguste Comte, concerned with positive facts and phenomena, and excluding speculation upon ultimate causes or origins.

positivism

/ ˈpɒzɪtɪˌvɪzəm /

noun

1. a strong form of empiricism, esp as established in the philosophical system of Auguste Comte, that rejects metaphysics and theology as seeking knowledge beyond the scope of experience, and holds that experimental investigation and observation are the only sources of substantial knowledge See also logical positivism
2. Also calledlegal positivism the jurisprudential doctrine that the legitimacy of a law depends on its being enacted in proper form, rather than on its content Compare natural law
3. the quality of being definite, certain, etc

positivism

1. An approach to philosophy frequently found in the twentieth century. Positivists usually hold that all meaningful statements must be either logical inferences or sense descriptions, and they usually argue that the statements found in metaphysics , such as “Human beings are free” or “Human beings are not free,” are meaningless because they cannot possibly be verified by the senses.

Derived Forms

• ˌpositivˈistically, adverb
• ˌpositivˈistic, adjective
• ˈpositivist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• posi·tiv·ist adjective noun
• posi·tiv·istic adjective
• posi·tiv·isti·cal·ly adverb
• nonpos·i·tiv·istic adjective
• unpos·i·tiv·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of positivism¹

First recorded in 1850–55; positive + -ism

Example Sentences

Hegelianism had closed the eyes of human understanding; Positivism had mutilated and crippled its activities.

From Project Gutenberg

He was an absolute positivist; his positivism did not make him self-assertive nor peremptory; on the contrary, it oppressed him.

From Project Gutenberg

One of them is that on which we have just commented, the assimilation between Positivism and Fetishism.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pontiff of Positivism informs us what problem, in his opinion, should be selected before all others for this united pursuit.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us turn now to positivism, and consider what is its position.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anticipation
• certainty
• confidence
• elation
• enthusiasm
• expectation
• happiness
• idealism
• trust