bonismn.
/ˈbɒnɪz(ə)m/, /ˈbəʊnɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈbɑˌnɪz(ə)m/, /ˈboʊˌnɪz(ə)m/ Now rare.
The doctrine that this world, although not the best of all possible worlds, is a good one. Cf. malism n., optimism n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [noun] > doctrine that world is good
bonism1883
1883 T. Hitchcock tr. E. von Hartmann Relig. Metaphysics ii. (258) The religious consciousness postulates also eudaemonistic malism,—incorrectly but commonly described as pessimism,—as much as it does teleological bonism [Ger. Bonismus].
1893 F. W. H. Myers Sci. & Future Life 10 The view of the universe loosely styled optimism, but which some now term bonism, with no greater barbarism in the form of the word, and more accuracy in its meaning.
1895 L. A. Tollemache B. Jowett ii. 91 Jowett's optimism verges on pessimism, or, let us say, his bonism verges on malism.
1976 E. Rothert & D. Zielińska tr. W. Tatarkiewicz Anal. Happiness xx. 252 In this context the appropriate terms for the possible attitudes to life seem to be not pessimism and optimism, but bonism and malism, because life is never best or worst, but simply good or bad.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1883