priorism
|pri-or-ism|
/ˈpraɪərɪzəm/
giving priority to the earlier/primary
Etymology
'priorism' originates from Modern English, formed by combining 'prior' and the suffix '-ism'; 'prior' ultimately comes from Latin 'prior' meaning 'former' or 'earlier', while '-ism' comes via Greek/Latin meaning 'practice, system, or doctrine'.
'priorism' is a Modern English formation. The element 'prior' entered English from Latin 'prior' (used in Medieval Latin and Old French), becoming Middle English 'prior' and then Modern English 'prior'; the productive suffix '-ism' (from Greek '-ismos' via Latin) was attached in Modern English to form nouns denoting doctrines or practices, yielding 'priorism'.
Originally the root 'prior' simply meant 'former' or 'earlier'; over time the derived formation 'priorism' came to denote the doctrine or tendency of giving priority to what is earlier (in time, rank, or principle) and, in some contexts, the philosophical emphasis on a priori reasoning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the doctrine or practice of giving precedence to what is prior — earlier in time, rank, or importance — often implying that earlier duties, principles, or claims should be honored before later ones.
In debates about conflicting obligations, the committee adopted a form of priorism, insisting that earlier contractual duties take precedence over subsequently formed agreements.
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Noun 2
in epistemology or philosophy, a tendency to favor a priori reasoning or principles — the view that knowledge or justification is primarily grounded in what is prior to experience.
Some critics labeled the scholar's methodology as priorism because he consistently appealed to a priori principles rather than empirical evidence.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 21:19