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possibilism

noun

Etymology

Borrowed from French possibilisme. By surface analysis, Latin possibil|is, ~e (“that can be done”) + -ism, from Latin po|ssum, ~(te)sse, ~tuī (“be able”) + -ibil|is, ~e (“-able”). First attested in 1883.

  1. borrowed from possibilisme

Definitions

  1. The belief that possible things exist, as well as actual things.

  2. The theory that the geographical environment sets certain constraints, but culture is…

    The theory that the geographical environment sets certain constraints, but culture is otherwise determined by social conditions.

  3. An approach that pragmatically focuses on achievable goals rather than impossible ideals.

    • Aim at a standard of adequacy (possibilism) rather than at a standard of perfection (utopianism).
  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. Any of various socialist reform movements.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for possibilism. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA