Locke and Lucretius on the Dangers of Dogmatism
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Authors
Foy, Henry
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Dogmatic beliefs are that which are taken to be true even in the presence of contrarian evidence or opinions. These forms of faith are particularly prevalent in religious institutions of all kinds. However, regardless of any good intentions, the successful spread of such beliefs frequently lead to the inhibition of human progress. John Locke and Lucretius represent two very different eras of Western Philosophy, yet both spend a great deal of effort discussing the institutions and use of dogmatic belief systems, particularly of religion. Lucretius’ On the Nature of the Universe discusses alternative explanations for all kinds of natural phenomena without the use of divine intervention. He does this while criticizing the effects of dogmatic faith stifling the power of reason and invention through the exploitation of fear. John Locke, in the time of Christianity, focuses on how convenience and passivity lead to the spread of dogmatism in his An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Going further, he shows how the forceful or political spread of divine truth inevitably leads to conflict. In his A Letter on Toleration, a society with free practice of religion is advocated for in order to circumvent the negative consequences of clashing between perfectly rigid positions. My presentation will explore how Lucretius and Locke demonstrate the pertinence and negative consequences of the propagation of dogmatic frameworks. Their critiques remain important for the navigation of our world philosophically and politically.