Positivism is a philosophy which states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge. Positivism was central to the foundation of academic sociology.

Positivism may also refer to:

  • Logical positivism, a school of philosophy that combines empiricism with a version of rationalism
  • Sociological positivism, a sociological paradigm
  • Legal positivism, a school of thought in jurisprudence and the philosophy of law
  • Positivist school (criminology), attempts to find scientific objectivity for the measurement and quantification of criminal behavior
  • Positivism in Poland, a socio-cultural movement in Poland after the 1863 January Uprising

See also

  • Postpositivism, a metatheoretical stance that critiques and amends positivism
  • Postpositivism (international relations), a school of thought in international relations theory
  • Optimism, a positive mental attitude