ˈpäzəd.iˌvizəm, -z(ə)tiˌ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French positivisme, from positif positive + -isme -ism — more at positive
1.
a. : a system of philosophy holding that theology and metaphysics belong to earlier or imperfect modes of knowledge whereas positive knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their spatiotemporal properties and invariant relations or upon facts as elaborated and verified by the methods of the empirical sciences — compare therapeutic positivism
b. : logical positivism
2. : the quality or state of being positive : dogmatism , confidence , certainty
exhibiting an undue positivism
3.
a. : the Lombrosian school of criminology or its theories
b. : the theory or doctrine that society is susceptible of analysis in purely objective mechanistic terms and that social values and normative standards are mere epiphenomena
4. : a theory that law is restricted to the man-made statute law without ethical or ideological content as distinguished from natural law or moral law