Lexicon: Dogmatism

The Etymology

From the Greek dogmatikos, derived from dogma, meaning "that which seems to one" or "an opinion/belief." In its original sense, it referred to a formal decree or a settled opinion.

The Definition

In the context of Sextus Empiricus and the Skeptic school, Dogmatism is the intellectual state of asserting a "truth" as absolute and final.

It is the opposite of Skepsis (Inquiry).

• The Dogmatist says: "I have found the truth; the case is closed."
• The Skeptic says: "I am still investigating; the case remains open."

Sextus argued that dogmatism is a form of mental blindness. Once you believe you possess the truth, you stop looking at the evidence. You become a prisoner of your own certainty.

The Strategy Application

In the corporate world, Dogmatism is the silent killer of innovation. It usually wears the mask of "Best Practices" or "Experience."

1. The "Expert" Trap A leader who has seen success in one domain often becomes a Dogmatist in the next. They believe their past "truth" (e.g., "Facebook ads are the only way to scale") is a universal law. They stop inquiring into the specific facticity of the new market.

2. The Roadmap as Dogma When a product roadmap is treated as a sacred text rather than a set of hypotheses, the organization has entered a state of Dogmatism. Even when the "Pre-Mortem" reveals potential failure, the Dogmatist pushes forward because they value Consistency over Reality.

The Chief Wise Officer's Rule: Dogmatism is a strategic dead end. The moment you stop doubting your competitive advantage is the moment you start losing it.

"The Dogmatist wants to be right. The Skeptic wants to be effective."