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positivism
/ ˈpɒzɪtɪˌvɪzəm /
noun
- 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
- See natural lawAlso 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
- the quality of being definite, certain, etc
positivism
- 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.
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Derived Forms
- ˌpositivˈistically, adverb
- ˌpositivˈistic, adjective
- ˈpositivist, nounadjective
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Other Words From
- posi·tiv·ist adjective noun
- posi·tiv·istic adjective
- posi·tiv·isti·cal·ly adverb
- nonpos·i·tiv·istic adjective
- unpos·i·tiv·istic adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of positivism1
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Example Sentences
Hegelianism had closed the eyes of human understanding; Positivism had mutilated and crippled its activities.
He was an absolute positivist; his positivism did not make him self-assertive nor peremptory; on the contrary, it oppressed him.
One of them is that on which we have just commented, the assimilation between Positivism and Fetishism.
The Pontiff of Positivism informs us what problem, in his opinion, should be selected before all others for this united pursuit.
Let us turn now to positivism, and consider what is its position.
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