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Positivism
//ˈpɒzɪtɪvˌɪzm// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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. countable, uncountable
"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’)."
- 2 a quality or state characterized by certainty or acceptance or affirmation and dogmatic assertiveness wordnet
- 3 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 (humans). countable, uncountable
- 4 the form of empiricism that bases all knowledge on perceptual experience (not on intuition or revelation) wordnet
Etymology
Borrowed from French positivisme, from positif (“positive”). Equivalent to positive + -ism.
See also for "positivism"
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