positivism
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positivism
- /ˈpɒzɪtɪvˌɪzm/ UK
- /ˈpɑzɪtɪvˌɪzm/ US
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French positivisme, from positif (“positive”). By surface analysis, positiv(e) + -ism.
noun positivisms
-
A doctrine that states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method, refusing every form of metaphysics.
The goal of positivism is to construct an objective, empirical and systematic foundation for knowledge. Given the above five tenets, it follows that positivists would hold that the world is composed of ‘facts’, or ‘sense data’ (or ‘atoms’).
Opposite: antipositivism
-
A school of thought in jurisprudence in which the law is seen as separated from moral values; i.e., the law is posited by lawmakers (people).
Similar: legal positivism
Translations
Every language
noun philosophical doctrine
| Español | positivismo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 실증주의 siljeungjuui |
| 日本語 | 実証主義 jisshōshugi |
| 中文 | 實證主義 /实证主义 shízhèng zhǔyì |
| हिन्दी | प्रत्यक्षवाद pratyakṣavād, तथ्यवाद tathyavād |
| Português | positivismo |
| Français | positivisme |
| Deutsch | Positivismus |
| Italiano | positivismo |
| Ελληνικά | θετικισμός thetikismós |
| Română | pozitivism |
| Русский | позитиви́зм pozitivízm |
| Tiếng Việt | chủ nghĩa thực chứng |
Talk about this word "positivism." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/positivism. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. positivism. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/positivism "positivism." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/positivism.Cite this
@misc{positivism_2026,
title = {positivism},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/positivism},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
