optimism

[Lat. optim (us)=best; English suff.- ism.] 1. Philos.: The name given to the view propounded in the Théodicée of Leibnitz that this world, as the work of God, must be the best among all po ible worlds; for, were a better world po ible than that which actually exists, God's wisdom must have known, His goodne must have willed, and His omnipotence must have created it. Leibnitz maintained that, if there was to be a world, it must consist of finite beings; this is the justification of finitene and liability to suffering, or metaphysical evil; that physical evil, or pain, is salutary as punishment, or means of tuition; and that God could not remove moral evil, or wrong, with out removing the power of self-determination, and, therewith, the po ibility of morality itself. J. S. Mill points out that Leibnitz did not maintain that this is the best of all conceivable, but of all po ible, worlds, so that his doctrine might be held by a "limited" Theist. 2. The tendency to take the most hopeful view of matters in general; the belief that the world is growing better. suff. -ize.] A. In trans.: To hold or advocate the doctrine of optimism. B. Trans.: To consider or represent as superexcellent. "Some baby doings optimized by her mother."- Black more: Clara Vaughan , ch. lxviii.