Operationalism (Noun)
Meaning
(philosophy) the doctrine that the meaning of a proposition consists of the operations involved in proving or applying it.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The philosopher's emphasis on operationalism led her to argue that the concept of time is only meaningful insofar as it can be measured and observed.
- Operationalism was a key feature of the logical positivist movement, which sought to ground all knowledge claims in empirical evidence and testability.
- According to operationalism, the statement "this object is heavy" is not meaningful in and of itself, but only in relation to the operations involved in measuring its weight.
- Critics of operationalism argue that it reduces complex concepts to simplistic and arbitrary definitions, neglecting the nuances and ambiguities of human experience.
- The operationalist approach to language emphasizes the importance of clear and concise definitions, arguing that meaning is derived from the practical applications and uses of words and concepts.