Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The belief that only current phenomena are relevant.
  • noun Interpreting past phenomena in terms of current beliefs and knowledge.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the doctrine that the Scripture prophecies of the Apocalypse (as in the Book of Revelations) are presently in the course of being fulfilled

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Their historical presentism is kind of funny actually.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Judge Reinhardt’s Dig on Sarah Palin 2010

  • A discussion about presentism is appropriate for an issue of Praxis about the relation between Romantic-period writers and contemporary culture.

    Presentism vs. Archivalism in Research and the Classroom: Introduction 2002

  • Sathekge said: "Friday is going to be a difficult day and companies that have not given their staff some leeway may be affected by presentism, that is staff are at work but not working."

    IOL: News 2010

  • "Ironically, during the time of a recession, absenteeism will decrease but presentism, that is being at work but not performing at optimum capacity, will increase and this not only affects the mental health of staff but also the profitability of the company," Prof Cooper said.

    Belfasttelegraph.co.uk - Frontpage RSS Feed 2009

  • Are we engaging in "presentism" and failing to understand what was done in other times and places if we assume that unmarried men who have no apparent intimate relationships with women had a homosexual orientation whether acted upon or not?

    Was Washington Irving gay? Ann Althouse 2007

  • Are we engaging in "presentism" and failing to understand what was done in other times and places if we assume that unmarried men who have no apparent intimate relationships with women had a homosexual orientation whether acted upon or not?

    Was Washington Irving gay? Ann Althouse 2007

  • Are we engaging in "presentism" and failing to understand what was done in other times and places if we assume that unmarried men who have no apparent intimate relationships with women had a homosexual orientation whether acted upon or not?

    Archive 2007-02-01 Ann Althouse 2007

  • I don't agree with everything Eric Jager says in his LA Times op-ed piece, but I will second his strike at "presentism" or our predisposition to view contemporary times as the summit of knowledge and enlightenment looming above the ignorance and intolerance of past ages.

    Archive 2006-01-01 2006

  • I don't agree with everything Eric Jager says in his LA Times op-ed piece, but I will second his strike at "presentism" or our predisposition to view contemporary times as the summit of knowledge and enlightenment looming above the ignorance and intolerance of past ages.

    The New Middle Ages 2006

  • None was delighted by the question, because it required judging the past by the standards of today — a fallacy disparaged as "presentism" by social scientists.

    1491 2002

Comments

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  • In the philosophy of time, this is the belief that only the present exists and the future and the past are unreal. Past and future "entities" are to be construed as logical constructions or fictions. (Wikipedia)

    May 22, 2008