Definition of Meliorism

1. Noun. The belief that the world can be made better by human effort.

Generic synonyms: Belief
Derivative terms: Meliorist

Definition of Meliorism

1. n. The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement.

Definition of Meliorism

1. Noun. The view or doctrine that the world can be improved through human effort (often understood as an intermediate outlook between optimism and pessimism). (defdate from 19th c.) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Meliorism

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Meliorism

meline
melinite
melinites
melioidosis
melioidotic
meliorate
meliorated
meliorater
meliorates
meliorating
melioration
meliorations
meliorative
meliorator
meliorators
meliorism (current term)
meliorisms
meliorist
melioristic
meliorists
meliority
meliphagan
meliphagous
meliphanite
melisma
melismas
melismata
melismatic
melismatically

Literary usage of Meliorism

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Present Conflict of Ideals: A Study of the Philosophical Background of by Ralph Barton Perry (1918)
"meliorism. To this moral or qualified hope James gave the name of "meliorism." If we adhere to our moral judgments and sentiments, we cannot pronounce the ..."

2. The Psychic Factors of Civilization by Lester Frank Ward (1906)
"meliorism. From mere impulse to true sentiment, and from sentiment to reason, are the psychic steps corresponding to the series of benevolent acts which ..."

3. The Individual and Reality: An Essay Touching the First Principles of by Edward Douglas Fawcett (1909)
"We shall regard individuals as the sole realities of which meliorism need take ... meliorism is to urge that in the end and on the whole reality becomes ..."

4. Philosophy as a Science: A Synopsis of Writings of Dr. Paul Carus by Paul Carus (1909)
"... AND meliorism. Pages, *"* 83. Paper, 50 cents (2s. 6d.). A Philosophical Essay on Causality and A Ethics, which 'Dr. Cams published soon preliminary ..."

5. A Text-book of Sociology by James Quayle Dealey, Lester Frank Ward (1905)
"meliorism. 90. Optimism is the normal attitude of all sentient beings. No other attitude is possible in the animal world or in any type of mankind that has ..."

6. Letters, Lectures and Address of Charles Edward Garman: A Memorial Volume by Charles Edward Garman, Mrs. Eliza (Miner) Garman, Amherst college Class of 1884 (1909)
"... AND meliorism. Pages, *** 83. Paper, 50 cents (2s. 6d.). A Philosophical Essay on Causality and A Ethics, which 'Dr. Carus published soon preliminary ..."

7. The Philosophy of William James by Théodore Flournoy (1917)
"VIII meliorism AND MORALISM WE must remember, however, that it was not merely in order to gratify man by representing him as being the captain of his fate ..."

8. Conflict in Nature and Life: A Study of Antagonism in the Constitution of by John Stahl Patterson (1883)
"... view which lies midway between optimism and pessimism, has been called, I believe, by GH Lewes, meliorism [Sully says the name was given by Mrs. Lewes]. ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Meliorism on Dictionary.com!Search for Meliorism on Thesaurus.com!Search for Meliorism on Google!Search for Meliorism on Wikipedia!

Search