Dogmatism (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what dogmatism is in philosophy, its representatives and its relationship with skepticism. Also, dogmas in other areas.

zenon dogmatism of citio — The philosophical dogmatism of Zeno of Citium implied accepting the world without questioning it.

What is dogmatism?

Dogmatism is a philosophical position that It operates with concepts and formulas that are accepted without question

The concepts and formulas of dogmatism are called “dogmas”. A dogma is a statement idea accepted as true without criticism or examination and on which a philosophical system is built. A dogmatist is one who accepts dogma and encourages others to proceed according to what is established.

Dogmatism can be defined as the inclination towards dogmas, that is, to demand that a truth be accepted without the possibility of questioning.

In the religious field, a dogma is a statement considered true because it was revealed by God. Religious dogmas must be recognized by the Church or the corresponding institution Dogma constitutes a mandatory object of faith for every believer.

Etymology and history

Dogmatism takes its name from the word “dogma”, which comes from the Greek. dogma and means “philosophical opinion” or “principled opinion.”

Sextus Empiricus (160-210), Roman philosopher, used the term “dogmatic” to talk about academic philosophers (dogmatikoí)—like Aristotle and the Epicureans—. These differed from the skeptics (skeptikoí), like Pyrrho (360-270 BC), who did not believe in the existence of truth.

Dogmatists believed that truth was something unquestionable, in their possession, while skeptics questioned truth.

With the arrival of Christianity in the West, the term “dogma” continued to be used to talk about the truths of the faith. Beginning with the Council of Trent (1545-1563), ecclesiastical authorities established as dogmas those truths revealed by God and recognized by the Church.

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Currently, a dogmatist is someone who is governed by a series of undisputed, rigid and immovable premises, most of the time in relation to a religious belief.

Types of dogma

Dogmatic has different meanings depending on the use to which it is given. Thus, there are religious, legal and scientific dogmas, among others.

religious dogma. It is every idea about God taken as true and immovable. One cannot demand evidence of the true character of a religious dogma. For example, the Catholic Church maintains that God is a trinity, composed of father, son and holy spirit, and this is a truth that is not questioned.
Legal dogma. It is any idea of a legal nature, linked to law. Legal dogmas are abstractions of legal norms, which are the norms that allow the legal system of each country to function. For example, in a Constitution there is usually a dogmatic part in which the basic rights that must be accepted are established.
scientific dogma. It is any theory that describes observable and quantifiable phenomena that are accepted by the scientific community under a certain paradigm. For example, the theory of gravity functions as a scientific dogma in all systems of thought.

Dogmatism and skepticism

dogmatism pythagoras reason mathematics — Dogmatists, like the mathematician Pythagoras, trusted reason.

Dogmatism and skepticism are antagonistic positions.

In ancient times they were contrary philosophical movements. While skeptics maintained that it is impossible to achieve the truth about the world, dogmatists believed in reason as a way to access truth.

However, some forms of skepticism have doses of dogmatism. For example, the suspension of judgment proposed by Pyrrho (360-270 BC), which is a skeptical method to cast doubt on common truths, usually appears together with the ontological thesis (in relation to being) that reality It is indeterminate, which is taken as a dogmatic statement.

Representatives of dogmatism

In ancient times, one of the most famous representatives of the school of dogmatism was Zeno of Citium (333-264 BC), founder of Stoicism, whose thought was inspired by the work of Heraclitus, Plato and Aristotle.

References

Defez, A., Muñoz, J., & Velarde, J. (2000). Dogma, dogmatism and skepticism. Compendium of Epistemology, 188-191.
Ayala-Fuentes, M. (2008). Relativism and dogmatism: Causes and consequences. Person and bioethics, 12(2), 118-131.
Chiesara, M. L. (2007). History of Greek skepticism (Vol. 54). Siruela.