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