1. in philosophy, a solution to the so-called criterion problem, which states that one cannot know whether one has knowledge because to recognize particular bits of knowledge one would need to know the criteria by which they are judged to be knowledge, and in order to know the criteria, one would already have to be able to recognize bits of knowledge. Particularism resolves this problem by stating that no general criteria are necessary to determine particular bits of knowledge.

2. in ethics, the doctrine that there are no general moral principles and that judgments of moral behavior cannot be made on the basis of such principles. Moral judgments must instead take account of many particular factors in a person’s background and current situation. This position tends toward moral relativism. See also moral nihilism; subjectivism. —particularist adj.