Scientific Literalism

The mistaken belief that scientific models, theories, and concepts are literal descriptions of reality rather than useful approximations. The Literalist thinks an electron is "really" a particle, a gene is "really" a discrete unit, a map is "really" the territory. Scientific Literalism forgets that science builds models, not mirrors—useful fictions that help us predict and intervene, not photographs of the noumenal world. It's the error of confusing the menu for the meal, the map for the landscape, the model for reality.

"You're arguing about whether light is 'really' a particle or a wave. Scientific Literalism: it's neither—those are models we use because they work. The map is not the territory. Your literalism is preventing you from understanding what science actually does."

Scientific Literalism by Abzugal February 23, 2026

Epistemological Literalism

The naive belief that language can directly capture reality—that words mean what they mean, that concepts correspond to things, that truth is a matter of matching statements to world. Epistemological Literalism ignores the mediated, constructed, interpretive nature of all knowing. It's the epistemology of the confident, the unreflective, the certain. It feels like common sense but is actually a sophisticated philosophical position that most of philosophy has spent centuries dismantling.

"Just tell me the truth, directly, no interpretation." Epistemological Literalism: as if truth came pre-packaged in language, as if words weren't interpretations, as if you could escape meaning-making. There is no direct—only mediated. Grow up."

Epistemological Literalism by Abzugal February 23, 2026

classical liberalism 

a political philosophy perpetuating free-market economics, minimalist government, strong private property rights, non-interventionism, government disinvolvement in social issues, separation of church and state, and open borders. the word "liberal" was originally associated with these beliefs, but liberals eventually started promoting large government, closed markets, redistribution of wealth, and high government involvement in social issues. today, liberal is associated with the latter qualities. the newer liberals are sometimes identified as neo-liberals. in modern day, a classical liberal tends to self-identify as a libertarian, and the term classical liberal is used much less than it was 100-200 years ago. some libertarian causes, like the Mises institute, still commonly use the term.

harry, who perpetuates classical liberalism, votes either republican or libertarian.

classical liberalism by toSTONEiGO August 2, 2012

The Cycle of Liberalism

The cycle of liberalism:

"It's not happening"

"Ok, it's happening"

"It's happening but it's not that bad"

"It's happening but it's a good thing"

The cycle of liberalism never fails.

The Cycle of Liberalism by FTJM May 3, 2023

Literalist 

Someone who takes things too damn seriously

Person 1: She's mine
Person 2: So you see women as property? Damn well that's a tad sexist
Person 3: Wow, what a literalist

Literalist by Nabcore March 9, 2015

Liberalism 

An ideology based on beliefs of economic and personal freedom, and the fact that social inequalities are a part of nature. (Also libertarianism to the American readers.)

A definition later to be distorted by Americans, who mainly associate "liberalism" with being left-wing on the political scale, disregarding the original and correct sense of the word.

Each man is the architect of his own fortune.

Liberalism by Svengali April 9, 2004

literality 

The quality or condition of being afflicted with a terminal inability to read-between-the-lines and only comprehend concepts and situations in a strict non-figurative sense.

She: “Hey sexy let’s go knock boots.”
He: “What do you mean?”
She: “Why don’tcha marinate the nether rod in the squish mitten…”
He: "You wanna what?"
She: “Wanna ‘Wham’ your ‘Oingo Boingo’ into my ‘Velvet Underground’?”
He: “Huh?”
She: “Come take the love luge on the inbound loin line”
He: “Pardon?”
She: “Tiptoe through my two lips…?”
He: “Ummm…I’m lost”
She: “Your literality drives me nuts...grab some imagination and gimme’ a clunge-plunge already!”

literality by KissMyKooch June 15, 2009