presentism

American  

[pri-zen-tiz-uhm] / prɪˈzɛnˌtɪz əm /

noun

1. the centering of present-day attitudes, values, and concepts in the interpretation of historical events.

   Presentism and failure to understand the political themes of the book in their historical context have led to many poorly informed modern criticisms of it.

2. Philosophy. the metaphysical doctrine that only things that are present exist.

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Other Word Forms

• presentist adjective

Etymology

Origin of presentism

First recorded in 1915–20; present ¹ ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Example Sentences

That said, perspective is important in history and I don't believe in "presentism," the idea that we can hold people who lived in other times to the moral and legal standards of our own.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2023

It seemed a long way from the presentism debate.

From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2023

And it echoes a heated debate among historians over presentism, which is the tendency to use the moral lens of today to interpret past eras and people.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2022

For one thing, Zafar is clearly the unwitting victim of changing social mores, and we need to be careful not to engage in presentism.

From Slate • Aug. 30, 2018

That kind of presentism is a delicate lifeline.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 16, 2016