Bulverism

Coined by C.S. Lewis in his essay, First and Second things.

The act of assuming without discussion that a person is wrong and then distracting his or her attention from this (the only real issue) by builsy explaining why he or she is wrong and how that person became so silly.

"There flashed across my opening mind the great truth that refutation is no necessary part of argument. Assume that your opponent is wrong, and then explain his error, and the world will be at your feet. Attempt to prove that he is wrong or (worse still) try to find out whether he is wrong or right, and the national dynamism of our age will thrust you to the wall." That is how Bulverism became one of the makers of Twentieth Century

by Primoxapian March 23, 2008

Bulverism

There are two fallacies to Bulverism.

Fallacy 1 - Anybody can call an action bulverism, but that does not mean they are calling them a bulverist.
Fallacy 3 - If person A called person B a bulverist, than that means that Person A is a bulverist (and anybody, not just person B, can call person A a bulverist).

Do you partake in bulveristic actions?
Are you a bulverist?
Don't bulverise people!
Hey, thats bulverism!

by ABulverist April 6, 2017

Bulverism-Sokalism

The unified cognitive bias and meta-bias that combines bulverism and sokalism into a single dismissive framework, particularly used against fields labeled as "postmodernism" or "relativism." Bulverism-Sokalism assumes that an entire field is wrong because it's "postmodern" or "relativist," and that anyone who draws on that field does so because of intellectual corruption rather than genuine insight. The bias allows its holders to dismiss vast areas of scholarship without engagement, to explain away opposing views without addressing them, and to maintain their own worldview as obviously correct while everyone else is simply deluded. Bulverism-Sokalism is the epistemology of the intellectual bubble, where everything outside is fraud and everyone inside is duped.

Example: "He dismissed all criticism as 'postmodern relativism.' When she pointed to specific arguments, he didn't engage—he just labeled them postmodern and moved on. Bulverism-Sokalism had made him immune to challenge: any opposing view was both explained away (you've been corrupted) and dismissed (your field is invalid). He never had to think, only to label."

by Abzugal March 8, 2026

braverism

One Who Shows an Example of Braveness, from in WICKED: The Musical

And Glinda dear, we're happy for you! As Press Secretary, I have striven to ensure that all of Oz knows the story of your braverism

by lalalalalaITSLATEineedthisWORD September 21, 2010

Butlerism

The act of fucking dead roadkill to fulfill your sexual desires, named after supposed beastial necrophiliac Andrew Butler. He was was reported to authorities after sticking his cock in a decomposing squirrel that was hit by a car, coining the term.

Did you see Mark last night? He was standing above a dead deer with his dick out last night. I think he practices butlerism.

by PrimordialHomo June 4, 2018

Bolderism

A term which describes a nickname that consists of the first letter of the first name and the rest of the second name.

Ben Holder = Bolder

Hey Bolder can you pass me the drink.

or Dan Morgan = Dorgan.

Hey Dorgan do you want to play football today?

This is known as a Bolderism.

by Spurner May 21, 2020

ballerism

1. Having ballerism is being a total baller 24/7

2. A 1981 Delorean

3. A baller driving a 1981 Delorean

1. Dude Ashlee has so much ballerism, that she plays with the guys in basketball.

2. That Delorean was oozing ballerism.

3. That guy in the Delorean is emitting so much ballerism its scary.

by jenuwine! October 12, 2009