The modern world is filled with men who hold dogmas so…
““The modern world is filled with men who hold dogmas so strongly that they do not even know that they are dogmas. It may be said even that the modern world, as a corporate body, holds certain dogmas so strongly that it does not know that they are dogmas. It may be thought 'dogmatic,' for instance, in some circles accounted progressive, to assume the perfection or improvement of man in another world. But it is not thought "dogmatic" to assume the perfection or improvement of man in this world; though that idea of progress is quite as unproved as the idea of immortality, and from a rationalistic point of view quite as improbable. Progress happens to be one of our dogmas, and a dogma means a thing which is not thought dogmatic.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
We often accept unexamined beliefs as truth, even when we don't recognize them as mere assumptions.
In simple terms: People treat untested ideas as facts.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions.
Themes
dogma
progress
rationalism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- business strategy
- personal belief systems
- education curricula
Key Concepts
philosophy
critical thinking
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What belief do you hold without evidence?
- How does labeling something a dogma change its influence?
A Different Perspective
Dogmas can be useful heuristics, not absolute truths.