Re: dogmatism

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On Thu, 1 Jun 2000, Richard N Hutchinson wrote:

> Colin-
> 
> The problem really has nothing to do with the content of Andrew Austin's
> posts, as noted by Randy Groves.

I agree, the problem has nothing to do with the content of Andrew Austin's
posts.

> The problem is that he is dogmatic, meaning that he turns every debate
> into one in which he becomes the Grand Inquisitor and we all become
> apostates who he rails against as being totally, utterly morally
> reprehensible because we will not submit to his orthodoxy.

Your definition fits more the terminology of one who is
self-righteous, sanctimonious or pharisaical.  Dogmatism, to the contrary,
refers to "a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without
adequate grounds".  In the case of Austin's postings, as I stated
previously, his assertions are most always accompanied by explanation,
analyses, argumentation, and examples.  In other words, Richard, Austin's
authority is firmly grounded whereas all we are getting from you is a slew
of ad hominen attacks which amount to name-calling.

> He tends to stake out an extreme position (no such thing as 
> overpopulation? what planet does he send e-mail from?), and then sneers 
> at everyone else, and call us pro-capitalist reactionaries.

Again, Richard, Austin has a position which is apparently shared by others
on the WSN list; as such why not deal with his stated position instead of
referring to it as an "extreme" position?  Utilizing characterizations
such as "orthodox Marxist-Leninist ideology", "dogmatism", "dogmatic
comrade", "Grand Inquisitor", "extreme position", etc. are all ad hominen
attacks.  As such, they are logical fallacies, for you are attempting to
disparage Andy because you are either unable or unwilling to address the
substance of his argument.

> Why are you defending him, anyway?  Are you his lawyer, fellow sect
> member, or what?  (I have nothing against sects per se, mind you, just
> dogmatism, which they seem prone to in my experience.)
> 
> RH

This last question by you completely indicates my point that you have been
attacking the "person" of Andrew Austin by your ad hominen attacks;
consequently, my attempt to point out your logical error is understood by
you as a defense of Andy and not as a statement of fact, viz. 1)  that
your ad hominen attacks attempt to disparage Austin by asserting that he
fits facts to his epistemology and discards those which contradict that
framework, 2) that the framework he attempts to fit his worldview into is
"orthodox Marxist-Leninist ideology", 3) that he is a "dogmatic comrade"
or 4) that his views are "dogmatic", in fact 4) that he is a "Grand
Inquisitor" who "rails against" "apostates" like yourself who are
"totally, utterly morally reprehensible because we [i.e. you] will not
submit to his orthodoxy."  While you characterize my statement of fact as
a defense of Austin, I rather see it as an attack on your reasoning based
upon the evidence at hand.


______________________________________________________________________________
Colin S. Cavell                       When others talk of our communal
University of Massachusetts           conflicts, linguistic differences and
Department of Political Science       various social disharmonies, they
Thompson Tower                        conveniently forget that Europe also,
Box 37520                             even a short time ago, was in no 
better
Amherst, MA  01003-7520               plight and yet she did not unmanfully
VOICE:  (413) 546-3408                accept her limitations as inevitable; 
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http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~cscpo  periods at the cost of immense 
suffering
                                      and sacrifice which have been worthily
                                      rewarded by access to a people's 
eternal
                                      right to self-rule.

                                      --Dr. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore,
                                        Bengali poet, novelist, Nobel 
laureate, 
                                        painter, philosopher, playwright,
                                        musician, songwriter, educator 
                                        (1861-1941)
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