释义 |
pluralism|ˈplʊərəlɪz(ə)m| [f. plural + -ism, after pluralist.] The character of being plural; the condition or fact of being a pluralist. 1. Eccl. a. The system or practice of more than one benefice being held at the same time by one person. b. The holding of two or more offices of any kind at one time.
1818Bentham Ch. Eng., Catech. Exam. 248 Obtainment on false pretences, as proved by Non-Residence, Pluralism, and Sinecurism. a1882R. Christison Life (1885) I. 411 Pluralism was at this period [1822] in the ascendant in the Scottish Church. 1892J. C. Blomfield Hist. Heyford 68 The last [century]..so sadly notorious for the pluralism and non-residence of the parochial clergy. 1904Daily Chron. 24 Nov. 6/2 (heading) Justice Buckley on Pluralism in Directorships. Ibid., It did not follow..that a rich man was the best administrator, but if the system of payment he suggested were adopted there should be an end of pluralism. 2. Philos. A theory or system of thought which recognizes more than one ultimate principle: opposed to monism. Also, the theory that the knowable world is made up of a plurality of interacting things.
1882W. James Let. 6 Dec. in R. B. Perry Tht. & Char. W. James (1935) I. 686 After all, pluralism and indeterminism seem to be but two ways of stating the same thing. 1884T. H. Green tr. Lotze's Metaphysic i. vi. 125 The Pluralism with which our view of the world began has to give place to a Monism, through which the ‘transeunt’ operation, always unintelligible, passes into an ‘immanent’ operation. 1887Bowne Philos. Theism i. (1902) 62 We replace..the pluralism of spontaneous thought by a basal monism. 1904Contemp. Rev. Sept. 416 Philosophically this is neither Pluralism nor out-and-out Monism. It is not the former because ultimately no other source of being but God, no principle of life but the Divine, is recognised. 1905Athenæum 11 Feb. 170/2 Thus we reach a pluralism. It is, however, the pluralism, not of Leibnitz, but of Lotze. The monads are not absolute, but interact. 1919Mind XXVIII. 57 For pluralism, the living experience of the subject consists actually in his interaction with other subjects. 1955R. Carnap in Internat. Encycl. Unified Sci. I. 49 It seems doubtful whether we can find any theoretical content in such philosophical questions as discussed by monism, dualism, and pluralism. 1969N. Rescher Many-Valued Logic iii. 214 There is no balking the fact of pluralism in logic. Ibid., Faced with the fact of pluralism, the step to relativism or conventionalism might seem short and easy. 1972K. R. Popper Objective Knowledge iv. 153 Some philosophers have made a serious beginning towards a philosophical pluralism, but pointing out the existence of a third world. 3. Pol. Sci. a. A theory which opposes monolithic state power and advocates instead increased devolution and autonomy for the main organizations that represent man's involvement in society. Also, the belief that power should be shared among a number of political parties.
1919H. J. Laski in Philos. Rev. XXVIII. 568 The monistic state is an hierarchical structure in which power is..collected at a single centre. The advocates of pluralism are convinced that this is both administratively incomplete and ethically inadequate. 1941H. M. Magid Eng. Political Pluralism i. 8 If we deny the inevitability of totalitarianism, we may discover in pluralism..an attempt to analyze the problem of freedom in the light of modern world conditions. 1954B. & R. North tr. Duverger's Pol. Parties ii. i. 257 As a ‘party system’ the single party is obviously different from the multi-party system or ‘pluralism’. 1969M. Broady in Architectural Assoc. Quarterly I. 67 Political pluralism is concerned essentially with the relationship between the State and other kinds of social organization, and it draws attention to the limitations of State power in order to assert the importance in a democratic society of alternative and independent sources of power and foci of interest. 1977M. Walker National Front i. 16 Britain is historically accustomed to one form or another of coalition government, which is the essence of pluralism. b. The existence or toleration of diversity of ethnic or cultural groups within a society or state, of beliefs or attitudes within a body or institution, etc.
1933Sociol. & Social Research XVIII. 103 (title) Social pluralism. 1956H. M. Kallen Cultural Pluralism 46 ‘Cultural Pluralism’ is a controversial expression. Ibid. 51 This pluralism is the kind always and everywhere characterizing men's undertakings. 1965New Statesman 19 Nov. 796/2 The relevance of this ‘pluralism’ to Caribbean politics is plain. Analysis of social problems in simple economic terms..will not do. 1969Guardian 20 Sept. 4/4 A good deal of discussion at the conference..has been about pluralism as opposed to assimilation. 1971Deb. House of Commons Canada 8 Oct. 8580/2 Ethnic pluralism can help us overcome or prevent the homogenization and depersonalization of mass society. 1976Times 7 Aug. 14/4 To be in favour of pluralism is to declare that one does not intend to hound or persecute theologians or catechists whose expression of faith differs from your own. 1977F. Young in J. Hick Myth of God Incarnate ii. 42 The future seems to lie with pluralism in christology. |