impossibilismn.
/ɪmˈpɒsɪbɪlɪz(ə)m/ Belief in ideas, especially on social reform, which cannot reasonably be put into practice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > practical impossibility > [noun] > that which is > belief in
impossibilism1885
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > moral philosophy > social ethics > [noun] > impossibilism and its adherents
impossibilism1885
impossibilist1892
1885 G. B. Shaw Let. 14 Dec. (1965) I. 146 We detect..the..anarchical impossibilism to which your proposition of private property in ideas..must lead in practice.
1899 G. B. Shaw Pen Portraits & Rev. (1932) 218 Two volumes of the translation appeared before the firm paid the penalty of its Impossibilism.
1910 Daily News 3 Feb. 4/2 There is no fixed hostility, and no impossibilism of attitude.
1917 G. K. Chesterton Short Hist. Eng. 76 An idealism akin to impossibilism.
1939 New Statesman 18 Nov. 712/2 An exposure of Nazi impossibilism.
Derivatives
impossibilist adj. /ɪmˈpɒsɪbɪlɪst//ɪmpɒˈsɪbɪlɪst/ of or pertaining to such views; also as n., one who holds such impracticable views.
/ɪmˈpɒsɪbɪlɪst//ɪmpɒˈsɪbɪlɪst/ of or pertaining to such views; also as n., one who holds such impracticable views.ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > practical impossibility > [adjective] > relating to impractical ideas
visionary1729
impossibilist1892
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > moral philosophy > social ethics > [noun] > impossibilism and its adherents
impossibilism1885
impossibilist1892
the world > action or operation > difficulty > practical impossibility > [noun] > that which is > belief in > one who
impossibilist1892
1892 G. B. Shaw Let. 22 Aug. (1965) I. 362 They had better circulate it among the Impossibilists.
1900 Speaker 3 Mar. 592/1 Even amongst those who were but recently impossibilist politicians saner views are prevailing.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 8 Feb. 7/2 We are predicting no impossibilist policy.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 17 Apr. 16/3 Impossibilists in Labour Politics.
1921 Public Opinion 29 July 107/1 In a world largely controlled by fanatics, dreamers, and impossibilists, the one thoroughly practical policy is that of the League of Nations Union.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1976; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
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n.1885