Absoluteistermia

Absoluteistermia is a neologism used in speculative fiction and certain philosophical discussions to denote a hypothetical epistemic or psychological condition characterized by an insistence on absolute certainties and a refusal to tolerate ambiguity. It is not a medically recognized disorder and has no standardized diagnostic criteria.

The term does not have a single, authoritative origin in clinical literature. It appears sporadically in essays and fictional works as a thought experiment or plot device to examine the dangers of dogmatism, epistemic inflexibility, and the social consequences of uncompromising beliefs. In these contexts, it is often treated as a symbolic condition rather than a real disease.

Typical features associated with Absoluteistermia include cognitive rigidity, dichotomous or all-or-nothing thinking, intolerance of ambiguous or conflicting information, and overconfidence in unverifiable beliefs. Behavioral manifestations can include persistent argumentation to defend absolutes, rejection of opposing viewpoints, or withdrawal when confronted with uncertainty. The concept is frequently discussed alongside related ideas such as epistemic certainty, absolutism in philosophy, and black-and-white thinking.

In non-fiction usage, Absoluteistermia is generally employed metaphorically to critique or analyze real-world cognitive biases rather than to describe a clinical syndrome. If treated as a metaphorical condition, approaches to addressing it align with critical thinking training, exposure to uncertainty, and practices from cognitive-behavioral therapy that encourage flexible reasoning and tolerance of ambiguity.

See also: cognitive bias, black-and-white thinking, epistemic rationality, absolutism.