PANGLOSSISM

extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity. It was characteristic of Dr. Pangloss, the old tutor to the hero in the satire Candide, (subtitled "Optimism") by Voltaire (French philosopher, poet, dramatist and author, 1694 - 1778). Dr. Pangloss' great point was his incurable and misleading optimism which did him no good and brought him all sorts of misfortune, but to the end he reiterated "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." —SHSBC Binder 2 Approved Glossary

an unrealistically optimistic saying, attitude, etc. Pangloss is an overly-optimistic philosopher and tutor in the novel Candide (1759), written by French author and philosopher Voltaire (pen name of Fran?ois Marie Arouet, 1694-1778). The suffix -ism is used to form nouns which refer to conduct, habit or character; hence, a Panglossism is something that is characteristic of Pangloss, or similar to his conduct or habits.

extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity. It was characteristic of Dr. Pangloss, the old tutor to the hero in the satire Candide, (subtitled "Optimism") by Voltaire (French philosopher, poet, dramatist and author, 1694 - 1778). Dr. Pangloss' great point was his incurable and misleading optimism which did him no good and brought him all sorts of misfortune, but to the end he reiterated "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds."