[Article] The Chasm Between Radical Dogmatism and Vulgar Materialism
The Chasm Between Radical Dogmatism and Vulgar Materialism
Paper presented as a lecturer assistant at Theological Philosophy Seminary in Eastern Indonesia (2019) with minor adjustments. Lecturer: Rev. Alius Rampalodji, M.Th.
Introduction
Theological and philosophical discourse often grapples with the extremities of thought that shape our understanding of reality, existence, and the transcendent. Among this vast spectrum of views, two poles that command attention are radical dogmatism and vulgar materialism. Radical dogmatism, in this context, refers to an unwavering adherence to a set of beliefs considered absolute truth, often to the exclusion of contradictory evidence or alternative interpretations. On the other hand, vulgar materialism asserts that matter is the sole substance of reality, reducing all phenomena, including consciousness and spiritual experiences, to material interactions.
This paper aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of radical dogmatism and vulgar materialism within the realms of theology and philosophy. By tracing their academic definitions, key characteristics, pivotal figures, implications, historical and contemporary examples, and alternative perspectives, this paper seeks to clarify the distinctions and potential tensions between these two extreme viewpoints.
Defining Radical Dogmatism
Dogmatism, at its core, is characterized by an uncritical belief and an unwarranted certainty in one's convictions.1 It is rooted in the conviction that absolute and unchanging truths exist, demanding uncompromising and unconditional commitment to the belief in an ideal.1 Dogmatic individuals exhibit an inflexible cognitive system, manifesting as a stable personality trait that reduces their ability to adjust to their environment.2 An unwillingness to accept the beliefs, ideas, and behaviors of others is a hallmark of dogmatic individuals, who often struggle to comprehend new ideas and reject reasonable notions if they contradict their own.2
In the realm of theology, dogmatic theology, or dogmatics, is the part of theology that deals with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and His works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body.3 Dogmatic theology emphasizes the importance of propositional truth over experiential or sensory perceptions, although it may also integrate such components into its system.3 It aims to present the truths of the Christian faith in their main contents (dogmas) systematically, adopting a scientific and critical method and taking into account the biblical witness and the background of church tradition.3
In contrast, radical theology questions or drastically redefines the core tenets of traditional theistic belief, pushing beyond the historical confession of an eternal, personal God as presented in Scripture. Radical theology often harbors suspicion towards firm dogmatic statements, arguing that dogma hinders authentic faith and preferring fluid interpretations.
Key characteristics of radical dogmatism include inflexibility and the avoidance of accepting others' beliefs and ideas.2 Highly dogmatic individuals find it difficult to understand new ideas, cannot accept reasonable ideas if they contradict their own, and prefer to work with like-minded people.2 Their cognitive system is relatively closed to beliefs and distrustful of reality, organized around a fundamental belief in absolute authority, and provides a framework for forms of dogmatism towards everything.2 An unwillingness to consider other possibilities and a strong commitment to one's own ideas, without considering other perspectives, are also typical.2
Cognitive and behavioral manifestations of radical dogmatism include an inability to accept and understand opposing ideas, potentially leading to violence when confronted with challenging events.2 Dogmatic individuals also show a lack of creative and divergent thinking, causing clear problems in adapting to the environment.2 They hold beliefs without questioning their validity or seeking further justification, demonstrating unwarranted certainty.1 The rejection of contradictory evidence and intolerance of alternatives are also behavioral hallmarks.1
Defining Vulgar Materialism
Vulgar materialism, broadly, refers to what is now commonly understood as physicalism, which explains everything through material principles such as matter and motion.5 Karl Marx criticized it as a shallow and superficial form of materialism that claims mental phenomena are merely the result of the body's chemical processes.7 In philosophical terminology, "materialism" (or "naturalism") refers to the philosophical view that matter in motion is the fundamental constituent of the universe.7 Vulgar materialism is the kind represented by the English writer Samuel Johnson (1709–84) kicking a stone to prove its existence.8
Key characteristics of vulgar materialism include the emphasis on matter in motion as the fundamental constituent of the universe.7 This view reduces mental and spiritual phenomena to material processes.7 Vulgar materialism shows disdain for speculative thought and philosophy, emphasizing sensory perception as the source of all knowledge.9 In Marxist terms, vulgar materialism presents a one-to-one correlation between the socio-economic base and the intellectual superstructure.10 It often involves economic reductionism, where human expression and knowledge are determined by the form of economic production applied to the group.10
Vulgar materialism differs from other forms of materialism. Historical materialism, for example, does not merely focus on material principles or laws, but starts from the real individual material entities that currently exist, as well as the history of these singular entities. Dialectical materialism, espoused by communists, is closer to dialectical idealism than vulgar materialism, emphasizing the interaction between ideas and the material world. Marx himself distinguished his materialist method (historical materialism) from the contemporary materialism of his time, which he considered abstract and ahistorical.7
Key Figures in the History of Thought
Numerous significant figures have grappled with the concepts of dogmatism and materialism throughout the history of theology and philosophy. Regarding dogmatism, ancient Greek philosophers such as Zeno of Citium (founder of Stoicism), Aristotle, and the Epicureans were often labeled as "dogmatists" by skeptics like Sextus Empiricus. In the Christian tradition, early Church Fathers like Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp defended early Christian doctrines.12 Key figures in Patristic theology include Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Augustine, Cyril of Alexandria, and John of Damascus, who developed and defended Christian dogma against various heresies. In the Middle Ages, theologians such as Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas systematized Catholic theology and dogma. Reformers like Luther and Calvin established Protestant doctrines.15 In modern times, theologians such as Karl Barth, Bernard Lonergan, and Joseph Pohle made significant contributions to dogmatic theology. Philosophers who discussed dogmatism include Blaise Pascal, René Descartes, and Immanuel Kant, who commented on dogmatism in relation to skepticism and reason.
Regarding materialism, Pre-Socratic philosophers such as Thales, Anaximenes, Heraclitus, and Empedocles proposed early materialist views of nature. Ancient atomists such as Leucippus, Democritus, Epicurus, and Lucretius developed atomistic materialism. Early modern materialists such as Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, Pierre Gassendi, and John Locke revived and developed materialism. French Enlightenment materialists such as Julien Offray de La Mettrie, Denis Diderot, and Baron d'Holbach were prominent materialist thinkers. In the 19th century, Ludwig Feuerbach, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels developed anthropological and historical materialism. Modern and contemporary materialists include David Hume, Jerry Fodor, and Daniel Dennett, who continued materialist thought in various forms.
Relationships, Contradictions, and Tensions
Radical dogmatism and vulgar materialism, at first glance, appear as opposing extremes of thought. Radical dogmatism emphasizes adherence to fixed beliefs, often rooted in non-material or transcendent authority, while vulgar materialism denies the existence of anything beyond matter.16 Dogmatism often involves faith and unquestioning acceptance, contrasting with materialism's emphasis on material explanations and empirical observation, although vulgar materialism itself can become dogmatic.16 Religious dogmatism may conflict with a materialist worldview in its understanding of human nature, consciousness, and the existence of a spiritual realm.16
However, vulgar materialism, in its rejection of non-material entities, can lead to the dogmatic assertion that only material explanations are valid, thus becoming a form of radical dogmatism itself.16 Marxist critiques of "vulgar materialism" highlight the tension between simplistic materialist views and more nuanced understandings of historical and social forces, which can sometimes be applied rigidly, bordering on dogmatism.10 Radical theology's suspicion of dogma might find common ground with materialism's rejection of traditional religious beliefs, yet they differ in the basis of their skepticism.
Historical conflicts between science (often associated with materialism) and religious dogma (e.g., the trial of Galileo) exemplify this tension. Contemporary debates between religious fundamentalism and secular materialism represent an ongoing clash between dogmatic belief systems and worldviews that often reject non-material explanations. Marxist critiques of religion as the "opium of the people" illustrate the conflict between materialist analyses of society and religious dogma.22
Theological and Philosophical Implications
Radical dogmatism in theology can result in rigid and potentially exclusionary views of God, emphasizing certain attributes or interpretations while disregarding others. This can lead to intolerance towards differing theological perspectives. Understandings of humanity may stress strict adherence to religious laws or doctrines, potentially limiting individual autonomy or critical thinking and leading to judgmental views of those outside the dogmatic framework. Comprehensions of reality often assert a divinely fixed and unchanging reality, potentially rejecting scientific findings or alternative understandings of the world.
Vulgar materialism, from a theological standpoint, fundamentally denies the existence of God as a transcendent and non-material being.23 Religious beliefs are viewed as human constructs or byproducts of material processes.23 Vulgar materialism reduces human beings to purely material entities, denying the existence of a soul, spirit, or non-material consciousness.23 Morality and ethics may be seen as purely biological or social constructs. Reality is asserted as solely material, with all phenomena explained through material interactions and natural laws, rejecting supernatural or spiritual explanations of the universe.
Philosophically, radical dogmatism in epistemology emphasizes the certainty of particular beliefs, often based on authority or tradition, potentially undermining the need for critical inquiry or rational justification. This can lead to a rejection of skepticism and the pursuit of knowledge through open debate. Ethics often derives from fixed doctrines or authorities, potentially leading to rigid moral codes and intolerance of different ethical frameworks. Metaphysics typically asserts a fixed and absolute reality, often based on specific philosophical or theological principles, and may reject alternative metaphysical frameworks or evolving understandings of reality.
Vulgar materialism in epistemology focuses on sensory perception and empirical observation as the primary sources of knowledge, potentially disregarding intuition, reason, or other forms of knowing. This can lead to skepticism towards abstract concepts or non-material realities. Ethics may lead to ethical relativism or nihilism by denying a non-material basis for morality, or grounding ethics in purely biological, social, or utilitarian considerations. Metaphysics asserts a monistic view of reality, where matter is the sole substance, rejecting dualism, idealism, or any metaphysical system that posits non-material entities or forces.
Historical and Contemporary Examples
Throughout history, there have been numerous manifestations of radical dogmatism in religious thought. Strict interpretations of religious texts leading to intolerance and persecution, such as the Inquisition, are historical examples. Fundamentalist religious movements that reject modern scientific or social developments are also contemporary manifestations. In secular thought, rigid adherence to particular political ideologies that refuse to acknowledge the validity of opposing views can be seen as a form of radical dogmatism.
Vulgar materialism also has historical and contemporary precedents. The French materialism of the 18th century, which sought to explain all phenomena through matter and motion, is a historical example. Certain interpretations of Marxism that reduce all social and cultural phenomena to economic factors can also be considered historical manifestations. Currently, some forms of scientific naturalism that assert only what can be empirically observed is real, and reject consciousness or subjective experience, reflect vulgar materialism. Extreme consumerism and valuing material possessions above all else as a societal manifestation of a materialistic worldview can also be seen as a contemporary example.
Alternative Perspectives
Various theological and philosophical perspectives offer middle grounds or critiques of the dichotomy between radical dogmatism and vulgar materialism. In theology, moderate theology emphasizes critical engagement with tradition and scripture, allowing for diverse interpretations and dialogue with modern knowledge. Process theology views God as relational and the universe as dynamic, offering a middle ground between a fixed, dogmatic deity and a purely material existence.11 Liberation theology, while rooted in a material analysis of social conditions, also emphasizes spiritual liberation and social justice, potentially bridging the gap between material concerns and theological values. Christian materialism is a contemporary theological perspective that affirms a nonphysical God but views human beings as purely material beings, offering an alternative to traditional dualism and strict materialism.
In philosophy, idealism states that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual, offering a direct contrast to materialism. Dualism argues for the existence of both mind and matter as distinct substances, providing an alternative to materialist monism. Pragmatism focuses on the practical consequences of beliefs and theories, potentially offering a way to move beyond rigid dogmatism and purely theoretical materialism. Skeptical materialism is a philosophical stance that combines a materialist view of reality with skepticism about our ability to know the essence of things, offering a nuanced perspective. Critical realism is a philosophical approach that acknowledges the reality of an external world while also recognizing the influence of human perception and social constructs, potentially bridging the gap between materialism and more interpretive views. Intentional humanism posits a middle ground between materialism and idealism, emphasizing empirical experience and scientific method within the framework of reason and intuition.
Conclusion
The chasm between radical dogmatism and vulgar materialism represents two extremes in theological and philosophical discourse. Radical dogmatism, with its uncritical adherence to fixed beliefs, can hinder critical thinking and open dialogue. Vulgar materialism, with its strict reduction of all phenomena to matter, challenges traditional theological concepts and the complexities of consciousness. However, the history of thought reveals a variety of alternative perspectives that seek to transcend this dichotomy, offering more nuanced understandings of reality, knowledge, and existence. Engaging with relevant academic literature is crucial for navigating this complex landscape of thought and making meaningful contributions to the ongoing discourse.
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