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
  noun
• positivist
  adjective
• positivistic
  adjective
• positivistically
  adverb
• unpositivistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of positivism

First recorded in 1850–55; positive + -ism

Example Sentences

Positivism the third stage for the development of societies proposed by August Comte, in which people reject religion and focus only on things that can be proven.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Positivism holds that there is never a single correct answer to novel, hard questions of law.

From Time Magazine Archive

At 37, and with only two books to his credit, Freddie Ayer has become Britain's most discussed younger philosopher, the chief apostle of a school which its followers call "Logical Positivism."

From Time Magazine Archive

Of one of his satanic prototypes Lewis says: "He had passed from Hegel into Hume, thence through Pragmatism, and thence through Logical Positivism, and out at last into the complete void."

From Time Magazine Archive

That may be Positivism, but it is not Radicalism.

From Bygones Worth Remembering, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Holyoake, George Jacob

Related Words

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