dogmatach

Dogmatach is a term used in philosophy of religion and intellectual history to describe a stance or persona characterized by rigid adherence to established dogmas and a tendency to defend them through appeals to authority, tradition, or deductive reasoning rather than open inquiry. The coinage blends dogma with a suffix denoting a practitioner or adherent, though its exact etymology is debated and not uniformly standardized.

A dogmatach typically exhibits features such as a privileging of doctrinal statements over empirical or critical evaluation; selective interpretation of sources to support a predetermined conclusion; suppression of dissent through rhetorical or reputational pressure; and resistance to revising beliefs in light of contrary evidence. In discourse, the label is used critically to distinguish principled or constructive doctrinal discourse from what proponents view as rigid dogmatism.

In scholarly contexts, dogmatach is invoked when analyzing debates in theology, confessional traditions, or ideological movements where adherents defend core tenets with authority rather than argumentation. Critics argue that dogmatach behavior undermines epistemic virtues such as fallibilism, open-mindedness, and reflected judgment, while proponents may contend that certain dogmas are non-negotiable insights worthy of protection.

Notable related concepts include dogmatism, epistemic virtue, and critical thinking. See also: faith and reason, interpretive authority, intellectual humility.