Meliorism
The belief that the world is genuinely capable of improvement through human effort — a deliberate middle position between optimism and pessimism.
Full definition of Meliorism →:: COMPARE ::
MeliorismvsOptimism
The short answer
Optimism says it will turn out well. Meliorism says it CAN be made to, and only if someone does the work. Meliorism is optimism with a job attached — and it is falsifiable in a way optimism isn't.
Side by side
| Aspect | Meliorism | Optimism |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement is | Possible | Expected |
| Requires effort | Yes | No |
| Can be disappointed | Yes | Yes |
| Implies duty | Yes | No |
What each one means
Optimism
The contrast above sets out how Optimism differs from Meliorism on the points that actually matter.