Antidogmatic

Antidogmatic is an adjective describing a stance that rejects dogma and refuses to accept beliefs solely on authority, tradition, or unchallengeable premises. An antidogmatic approach prioritizes critical inquiry, provisional judgments, and openness to revision in light of new evidence or arguments. The term can apply across disciplines, including philosophy, science, religion, and politics. The noun form is an antidogmatic stance or attitude.

Etymology: from anti- meaning against and dogmatic, from Latin dogmaticus via Greek dogmatikos, related to dogma, “an opinion or decree.” The term entered English in the 19th or early 20th century, though the underlying concept appears in skeptical and liberal traditions prior to that.

In practice, antidogmatic thinking describes positions that resist rigid, systematic claims that cannot be tested or disputed. In science and epistemology, it aligns with fallibilism and evidentialism, favoring revision over dogmatic certainty. In religious discourse, it may characterize liberal or reformist movements that question creedal formulations and seek ongoing reinterpretation. In politics, it can denote openness to multiple perspectives and opposition to absolutist ideologies.

Critics argue that excessive antidogmatism can undermine commitment or lead to relativism. Proponents contend that it promotes intellectual honesty, adaptability, and nuance. The term is often used descriptively to describe a stance rather than to prescribe normative conclusions.

See also: dogma, skepticism, open-mindedness, critical thinking, pluralism.