positivism

American  

[poz-i-tuh-viz-uhm] / ˈpɒz ɪ təˌvɪz əm /

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.

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positivism British  

/ 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 called: legal 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

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positivism Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpositivistic adjective
• positivist adjective
• positivistic adjective
• positivistically adverb
• unpositivistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of positivism

First recorded in 1850–55; positive + -ism

Example Sentences

“Our positivism, our optimism, our hope in a better future is second to none. I think that’s what you’re seeing in those numbers, even as our community feels totally attacked.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

He looked skeptically upon the heroic positivism he encountered in his science and philosophy classes there but found solace in the books of Friedrich Nietzsche.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2022

Comte believed that humanity would struggle to transition to positivism, as religions provided comforting and meaningful structure and rituals.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

But there are other, more interesting questions to ask: what is Miss World’s place now, in the era of body positivism and fourth-wave feminism?

From The Guardian • Dec. 8, 2019

Is there any more substantial solace in it than in the "Oh, may I join the Choir Invisible" aspiration of mid-nineteenth-century positivism?

From God and Mr. Wells A Critical Examination of 'God the Invisible King' by Archer, William

Related Words

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