What is Dogmatism in Philosophy
Dogmatism is a philosophical current that is characterized by the acceptance and defense of a set of principles or beliefs as absolutely true and indisputable. This philosophical current emerged in Ancient Greece, being influenced mainly by pre-Socratic thinkers and sophists. Dogmatism is opposed to skepticism, which questions the possibility of achieving any type of absolute knowledge, and relativism, which argues that all truths are relative and depend on the point of view of each individual.
Origin and Development of Dogmatism
Dogmatism had its roots in pre-Socratic philosophy, which sought to explain the origin and nature of the universe through rational principles. Early pre-Socratic philosophers, such as Thales of Miletus and Heraclitus, believed that it was possible to know truth through reason and observation of the natural world. This search for absolute and universal truth was the basis for the development of dogmatism.
However, it was with the sophists that dogmatism gained strength and became a more structured philosophical current. The sophists were masters of rhetoric and argumentation, and taught their students the art of persuading and convincing. They argued that it was possible to achieve truth through speech and argument, and that this truth could be conveyed to others through rhetoric.
Main Characteristics of Dogmatism
Dogmatism is characterized by some main characteristics. The first of these is the belief in the existence of absolute and universal truths, which can be known and understood by human reason. For dogmatists, these truths are immutable and do not depend on each individual's point of view.
Another characteristic of dogmatism is the rejection of skepticism and relativism. Dogmatists believe that it is possible to achieve objective and absolute knowledge, and that all other forms of knowledge are inferior or mistaken.
Furthermore, dogmatists tend to be inflexible in their beliefs and opinions, not accepting contrary arguments or questions. They defend their truths absolutely and are unwilling to consider other perspectives.
Criticisms of Dogmatism
Dogmatism has been the target of various criticisms throughout the history of philosophy. One of the main criticisms is that belief in absolute and universal truths can lead to fanaticism and intolerance. When someone considers themselves to be the holder of absolute truth, they may close themselves off from other perspectives and be unwilling to dialogue or consider other points of view.
Another criticism of dogmatism is that the search for absolute truths can be illusory and unattainable. Many philosophers argue that reality is complex and multifaceted, and that it is not possible to reduce it to a set of absolute principles or beliefs.
Dogmatism in Contemporary Philosophy
Despite criticism, dogmatism still has followers in contemporary philosophy. Some philosophers argue that it is possible to achieve objective and absolute knowledge through reason and logic. They argue that there are universal and immutable truths, which can be discovered and understood by the human mind.
However, most contemporary philosophers tend to adopt a more skeptical or relativist stance. They question the possibility of achieving absolute knowledge and argue that all truths are relative and depend on the context and point of view of each individual.
Conclusion
In short, dogmatism is a philosophical current that is characterized by the acceptance and defense of absolute and universal truths. This philosophical current had its roots in pre-Socratic philosophy and gained strength with the sophists. Dogmatism has characteristics such as the belief in the existence of absolute truths, the rejection of skepticism and relativism, and inflexibility in its beliefs. However, dogmatism has been the target of criticism, mainly for its tendency towards fanaticism and intolerance. In contemporary philosophy, most philosophers tend to adopt a more skeptical or relativistic stance towards absolute knowledge.
