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Show Dogma of dogmatic dogmaticism File 13 One of the most remarkable things about our so-called "analytic "ana-lytic age" is the extent to which the characterization is false. The most resurgent attitude which can be seen among the young is the resurgence of dogmatism. The quest for immediate certitude is becoming pervasive. Increasingly, we are dividing into social groups whose individual members are remarkably re-markably alike. Radical politics may be characterized by its dogmatism dog-matism and doctrinaire approach to contemporary problems. The use of drugs to achieve insight or spiritual communication or whatever it is they are supposed sup-posed to do reflects the desire for immediate knowledge and certitude. certi-tude. All of this may seem remarkable remark-able in an age of science. And such dogmatism is not limited to students. Noam Chomsky, a very important physicist, was recently chastised by Sidney Hook for his dogmatism. Dr. Chomsky has been laying down the solutions to all our social problems with an assurance which he would not dare in his profession. Dr. Chomsky's Chom-sky's pronouncements seem very much like some bearded prophet's "take it and be saved or reject it and be damned" message. The radical demand for "academic "aca-demic freedom" increasingly sounds like "teach what we tell you to". The dogmatic attitude is nothing no-thing new. It may be seen in every age and in every people. Many religious people expect their revelation reve-lation or their religion to answer every question. The resurgence of doctrinaire Marxism among the student left provides a sort of "gospel" which gives all the answers an-swers and gives one a complete world-view. Indeed, dogmatism is rather the rule than the exception. The role of libera education is an assault on the citadel of dogma held as intellectual axioms. To often we regard education as the citadel, rather than the attacker. I am grateful for whatever it is that drives man to seek knowledge. know-ledge. I can understand what motivates us to wish to know the ultimate truth or the comprehensive comprehen-sive truth or even ALL the truth right here and now. However, such a desire is to be feared. When we start burning people or punishing punish-ing them or blowing up buildings or occupying buildings all in the name of our irrefutable truth, we serve not that truth but only anger, rage, hatred and all the other emotions which characterize most of the animal kingdom. Whatever truth there is would be the first thing to disappear in such a world. I hope we can distinguish between be-tween what we know and what we believe or wish. When one begins to think about it, he admits that nobody knows all that much. This should serve as an invitation for investigation, rather than a call to arms in the name of the latest crusade. |