| 释义 |
optimism|ˈɒptɪmɪz(ə)m|
[a. F. optimisme; in mod.L. optimism-us, f. L. optim-us best: see -ism.]
1. A name given to the doctrine propounded by Leibnitz, in his Théodicée (1710), that the actual world is the ‘best of all possible worlds’, being chosen by the Creator out of all the possible worlds which were present in his thoughts as that in which the most good could be obtained at the cost of the least evil. Also applied to doctrines of earlier or later thinkers to a like effect.
Leibnitz, in his Théodicée, uses optimum as a technical term, on the model of maximum and minimum. Hence the Jesuits who conducted the Mémoires de Trévoux, in the number for Feb. 1737, gave to his doctrine the name optimisme. It appears in the Dict. Trévoux 1752. It owes its general diffusion to the attack upon the doctrine by Voltaire in Candide ou l'Optimisme 1759; and was admitted into the Dict. Acad. in 1762.[1737Mém. de Trévoux (Fév.) 207 En termes de l'art, il l'appelle la raison du meilleur ou plus savamment encore, et Theologiquement autant que Géométriquement, le systême de l'Optimum, ou l'Optimisme.] 1759Warburton in W. & Hurd's Lett. (1809) 289 The professed design is to ridicule the Optimisme, not of Pope, but of Leibnitz. 1782Warton Ess. Pope (ed. 4) II. ix. 124 That this Platonic scheme, of Optimism, or the best, sufficiently accounts for the introduction of moral and physical evil into the world. [The words ‘Optimism, or’ are not in the previous edd.] 1791Boswell Johnson an. 1759 Voltaire's Candide, written to refute the system of optimism, which it has done with brilliant success. 1793D. Stewart Outl. Mor. Philos. ii. ii. (1801) 213 By some modern authors the scheme of optimism has been proposed in a form..which leads to a justification of moral evil, even with respect to the delinquent. 1842Brande Dict. Sc., etc., s.v., The optimism of Leibnitz was based on the following trilemma:—If this world be not the best possible, God must either, 1. not have known how to make a better, 2. not have been able, 3. not have chosen. The first proposition contradicts his omniscience, the second his omnipotence, the third his benevolence.
b. More generally applied to any view which supposes the ultimate predominance of good over evil in the universe.
1841–4Emerson Ess., Prudence Wks. (Bohn) I. 95 One might find argument for optimism in the abundant flow of this saccharine element of pleasure in every suburb. 1878T. Sinclair Mount 18 The optimism that may well be considered fanciful is that of Hegel, Buckle, republicans like Hugo,..Whitman, and the development men generally. 1880Goldw. Smith Pessimism in Atlant. Monthly No. 268. 196 Besides optimism, which affirms the definitive ascendency of good, and pessimism, which affirms the definitive ascendency of evil, a third hypothesis is possible. 1888Mrs. H. Ward R. Elsmere vi. xlii, The young reformer's social simplicity, his dreams, his optimisms. 1889S. Alexander Moral Ord. & Progr. ii. v. §37. 227 Morality is therefore of itself and necessarily a kind of optimism. 1900W. L. Courtney Idea of Tragedy 67 A shallow optimism is the last theory of all to which a thinking man ought to consent.
2. The character or quality of being for the best.
1795Southey in Cottle Early Recoll. (1837) II. 3 Of all things it is most difficult to understand the optimism of this difference of language. 1821Byron 2nd Let. Bowles' Strict. Wks. 1832 VI. 403 It may be wrong, but it does not assume pretentions to Optimism.
b. The quality of being the best; ‘bestness’.
1796Southey Lett. fr. Spain (1799) 228 Portugal is the best part of Spain... So much for the beauty and optimism of Portugal.
3. Disposition to hope for the best or to look on the bright side of things; general tendency to take a favourable view of circumstances or prospects.
1819Shelley Ess. (1852) II. 188 Let us believe in a kind of optimism, in which we are our own gods. 1859Wraxall tr. R. Houdin xix. 277 His disposition to look at the bright side of everything. He was the incarnation of optimism. 1872Pall Mall G. 6 Apr. 1 Mr. Disraeli's optimism has a great deal too much the air of inviting his party to confine itself to the cultivation of cabbages. 1881Black Sunrise III. ix. 143 ‘Let it be cheerful’ said he, with his gay optimism. 1893Liddon, etc. Life Pusey I. viii. 158 Pusey's optimism as to the existing state of German Protestantism. |