possibilism

[ pos-uh-buh-liz-uhm- ]

noun

1. Sociology. the doctrine that culture may be affected by geographical or environmental conditions but is ultimately determined by social conditions and human agency: geographical determinism ( def ), environmental determinism ( def 1 ).

   Possibilism can be observed in any situation where humans conquer their environment, such as by building roads through arid land.

2. Politics. a belief in pursuing moderate, practical, or feasible reforms:

   Libertarian possibilism advocated achieving anarchist ends by participating in the structures of contemporary parliamentary democracy.

Other Words From

• pos·si·bil·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of possibilism¹

First recorded in 1865–70, equivalent to Latin possibl(is) possible ( def ) + -ism ( def )

Example Sentences

It seemed to Peter that every time he fell asleep it was to the music of proletariat and surplus value and unearned increment, possibilism and impossibilism, political action, direct action, mass action, and the perpetual circle of Syndicalist-Anarchist, Anarchist-Communist, Communist-Socialist and Socialist-Syndicalist.

From Project Gutenberg