Positivistic
[poz-i-tuh-viz-uh m] /ˈpɒz ɪ təˌvɪz əm/
noun
1.
the state or quality of being ; definiteness; assurance.
2.
a philosophical system founded by Auguste Comte, concerned with facts and phenomena, and excluding speculation upon ultimate causes or origins.
/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 (sense 3)
3.
the quality of being definite, certain, etc
n.
1847, the philosophy of Auguste Comte (1798-1857), who published “Philosophie positive” in 1830; see positive (adj.) in the “just the facts” sense + -ism. Related: Positivist; Positivistic.
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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