Someone who emphasizes observable facts and excludes metaphysical speculation about origins or ultimate causes.
synonym: positivist.
Roget 989:
irreligion†,
indevotion†;
godlessness,
ungodliness
etc.
adj.;
laxity,
quietism.
skepticism,
doubt;
unbelief,
disbelief;
incredulity,
incredulousness
etc.
adj.†;
want of faith,
want of belief;
pyrrhonism;
bout
etc.
485;
agnosticism.
atheism;
deism;
hylotheism†;
materialism;
positivism;
nihilism.
infidelity,
freethinking,
antichristianity†,
rationalism;
neology.
[person who is not religious]
atheist,
skeptic,
unbeliever,
deist,
infidel,
pyrrhonist;
giaour†,
heathen,
alien,
gentile,
Nazarene;
espri fort [Fr.],
freethinker,
latitudinarian,
rationalist;
materialist,
positivist,
nihilist,
agnostic,
somatist†,
theophobist†.
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Roget 476:
reasoning ratiocination rationalism;
dialectics,
induction,
generalization.
discussion,
comment;
ventilation;
inquiry
etc.
461.
argumentation,
controversy,
debate;
polemics,
wrangling;
contention
etc.
720;
logomachy†;
disputation,
disceptation†;
paper war.
art of reasoning,
logic.
process of reasoning,
train of reasoning,
chain of reasoning;
deduction,
induction,
abduction;
synthesis,
analysis.
argument;
case,
plaidoyer†,
opening;
lemma,
proposition,
terms,
premises,
postulate,
data,
starting point,
principle;
inference
etc.
(judgment)
480.
prosyllogism†,
syllogism;
enthymeme†,
sorites†,
dilemma,
perilepsis†,
a priori reasoning,
reductio ad absurdum,
horns of a dilemma,
argumentum ad hominem [Lat.],
comprehensive argument;
empirema†,
epagoge†.
[person who reasons]
reasoner,
logician,
dialectician;
disputant;
controversialist,
controvertist†;
wrangler,
arguer,
debater polemic,
casuist,
rationalist;
scientist;
eristic†.
logical sequence;
good case;
correct just reasoning,
sound reasoning,
valid reasoning,
cogent reasoning,
logical reasoning,
forcible reasoning,
persuasive reasoning,
persuasory reasoning†,
consectary reasoning†,
conclusive
etc.
478;
subtle reasoning;
force of argument,
strong point,
strong argument,
persuasive argument.
arguments,
reasons,
pros and cons.
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Dutch: positivist, rationalist, verstandsmens