Dogmatism

Dogmatism Meaning

Dogmatism does not allow for meaningful debate.

For something to be logical or reasonable, however, it must be able to withstand debate. Thus no action, statement, or conclusion based on dogmatism is logically validated. There’s a name for this: an opinion, which is a statement of personal belief or choice.

As such, this is the dogmatic argument at its core.

Here’s how that looks in simple terms.

Although there is no absolute way to cut a vegetable, someone might act like there is. This is an example of someone treating their opinion as an indisputable fact.

Why Dogmatism is a Logical Fallacy

Treating something as a fact when it is an opinion is a problem because opinions can be anything.

Well, that's great, John, but there's no logical reason to believe that.

If John uses his belief as a reason to enact change, that is fundamentally no different than anybody using their belief as a reason to enact change.

Thus, any use of an opinion as fact is a logical fallacy.

Identifying Dogmatism

To identify dogmatism, you have a great tool at your disposal, and it's one word. "Why?"

Asking "Why?" is always smart.

"Why" is the best question you have to uncover dogmatism. Dogmatic individuals will not be able to explain their positions logically. They will either resort to further logical fallacies or eventually admit that their reasons are faith- or belief-based.

If you are doing a close reading looking for dogmatism, see how well the writer responds to hypothetical opponents who ask "why." If a writer doesn't explain the logical basis for their argument and takes its validity as a given, then you are looking at a dogmatic writer.

Types of Dogmatism

Here are some of the varieties of dogmatism that exist in argumentation.

Political Dogmatism

If someone bases their views on the "foundational belief" of a political party, then that someone subscribes to political dogmatism.

To believe that any party, state, or country stands for something unchanging or unquestionable is to believe in dogma. To argue based on this dogma is to enlist a logical fallacy.

Racist Dogmatism

Racist dogmatism arises as a result of stereotyping, ignorance, and hatred.

Those who subscribe to this variety of dogmatism do not seriously question this belief. If they did, they would eliminate terms like "superior" and "best" because there is no logical way to define a race or individual as superior to another. The term "superior" only functions logically in narrow, tested instances of one function against another.

This is an example of a logical use of "superior."

No test can determine the superiority of a race because a race is comprised of individuals with trillions of functional differences.

Faith-Based Dogmatism

Dogmatism frequently arises in faith-based religions, where unvalidated thoughts are treated as the truth.

To use this text in a logical argument, this person would need to explain the ontological origins of that creator and also connect that creator to the text beyond a shadow of a doubt.

This has never been done, however, which means that all creator-faith-based arguments are some form of dogmatism. Unlike logicians, scientists, and philosophers, whose opinions are malleable and up for debate and further research, faith-based dogmatism treats the unverifiable basis for their opinion as utter fact.

Dogmatism Fallacy Essay Example

Here's how dogmatism might appear in an unexpected place.

This passage is based on the steadfast belief that the more vitamins you have, the better. Discouraging their readers from questioning if there's a limit to the effectiveness of vitamins, this writer dogmatically assures the reader to keep adding vitamins to their diet to be "stronger, healthier, and happier."

A less dogmatic writer would spend more time explaining their recommendations and less time dispensing their recommendations.

To avoid using dogmatism, be sure to know why you believe something. Be logical, and do not stop until you have a reasonable answer.

Dogmatism can come in unexpected bottles.

Synonyms for Dogmatism

There are no exact synonyms for dogmatism. However, here are some similar words.

Dogmatism is related to several other logical fallacies, including circular reasoning, scare tactics, and the appeal to tradition.

Returning to faith-based dogmatism, an arguer might attempt to justify their creator with their holy text and the holy text with the creator. Circular reasoning is a quick and tidy way to answer "why," albeit it is yet another fallacy.

Someone might use scare tactics to convince you of their dogmatic belief. For instance, to persuade you to buy their vitamin product, someone might scare you into thinking that you put yourself at greater risk for disease without these enormous levels of vitamins.

An elder member of your family might appeal to tradition to argue their point. However, just because something has been around a while does not mean it is correct. People have believed in all kinds of bogus things over the years, so something's age has nothing to do with its validity. An appeal to tradition is a kind of argument from authority.

Circular reasons, scare tactics, and appeals to tradition fail to argue something at a logical level.