Definition

A person who believes in the philosophy that knowledge should be based on observable phenomena and empirical evidence, rather than on theories or beliefs.

Example

As a positivist, she emphasized the importance of scientific methods in understanding the world.

Conversation

I recently read a book about philosophy and it mentioned a positivist approach to understanding the world.

That sounds interesting! What exactly does that mean?

Well, a positivist believes that knowledge comes from observable phenomena.

Got it! So it's all about relying on facts and evidence.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Positivist → It is formed from "positus" (the past participle of "ponere", meaning to place or put) and the suffix "-ist" (meaning one who practices or is concerned with). The term refers to one who advocates for the philosophy that knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their properties, emphasizing observable facts.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'places' ('ponere') importance on 'facts' and 'observations' — that's what a positivist does.

Visually Confused Words