释义 |
Panˈglossian, a. and n. [f. prec. + -ian.] A. adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the philosophy of Pangloss. B. n. One who shares this philosophy.
1831Disraeli Yng. Duke I. i. iii. 23 He was quite disembarrassed of that Panglossian philosophy, which had hitherto induced him to believe, that the Earl of Fitz-pompey was the best of all possible uncles. 1922Hardy Late Lyrics Apol. p. xi, Hence should anything of this sort in the following adumbrations seem ‘queer’—should any of them seem to good Panglossians to embody strange and disrespectful conceptions of this best of all possible worlds, I apologize; but cannot help it. 1936G. B. Shaw Simpleton Pref. 3 If author and journalist are both placid Panglossians, convinced that their civilization is the best of all possible civilizations..there is no trouble. 1937A. Huxley Ends & Means vii. 68 In those who make the identification it induces a kind of busy, Panglossian fatalism. 1957M. McCarthy Memories Catholic Girlhood p. xxiv, Some of my relations philosophize to this effect, in a somewhat Panglossian style. 1967Guardian 17 May 1/3 This somewhat Panglossian interpretation of the significance of General de Gaulle's press conference. 1976Nature 18 Mar. 196/2 The first, and most widely appreciated, is the old Panglossian fallacy that natural selection favours adaptations that are good for the species as a whole, rather than acting at the level of the individual. |