Dogmatic and analytical thinking

Dogmatic and analytical thinking

The ways of thinking can be divided into two large non-overlapping categories - dogmatic and analytical.

At the heart of dogmatic thinking are certain indisputable statements, holy postulates, dogmas, templates.

Dogmatic thinking could be called religious because all religious thinking and reasoning is dogmatic. But atheists are also dogmatic. The view of history and historical events can be dogmatic. Scientific views and methods of education can be dogmatic. The approach to education and gender relations, family roles, career, lifestyle can be dogmatic.

Those. dogmatic thinking is equally characteristic of both believers and atheists.

Dogmatism hinders and stops the development of science and progress. Dogmas are at the heart of many human tragedies. From wars to crusades and terrorism. Dogmas hinder the development of science, medicine, empathy and humanity.

The peculiarity of dogmatic thinking is the lack of analysis, a stereotyped approach, intolerance to a different opinion (to heresy) and the inadmissibility of doubts about the "truth." Dogmatic thinking is rigid, motionless, unshakable.

But, with all this, it is very profitable, because it is energetically less expensive than analytical. The energy-saving of dogmatic formulaic thinking leads to its very wide distribution.

Dogmatic thinking is the path of ready-made answers. The path when you can not think, not reflect.

"Don't touch what is holy" is the motto of dogmatic thinking.

Each person, if desired, can find in himself a variety of dogmas, patterns and external attitudes.

If he spends energy on it.

True, as soon as he spends this energy and finds these dogmas, i.e. will analyze his way of thinking, he will move from dogmatic thinking to analytical. For dogma is antagonistic to analysis, reflection, thinking.

Analytical thinking, as a method of knowing the world, as a way of thinking and a way of life, is much less common. For this method, the brain needs much more energy, and the person needs honesty and courage.

Analytical thinking can also be called scientific or free.

Knowledge arises precisely thanks to analytical thinking.

At the same time, a situation is possible when the teacher (pioneer, scientist) has analytical thinking, and the students become dogmatists. They save the energy of their brains.

And there are many examples of this in science.

To be in doubt, to analyze any postulate is a very laborious task for the brain.

“I know I don’t know anything” is the motto of analytical thinking.

For such statements, the dogmatists bring poison to the analysts.

And this is understandable, since analysis is destructive for any dogma.

The power of analytical thinking lies in the ability to go beyond, to look at an event, the world, an object from a new, unusual side, from a new perspective.

Analytical thinking is a path of discovery and questioning. The path of doubt and experimentation. The path of risk and insight.

An interesting path, but a difficult one.