Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 01:33:41 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Dogmatism and Action



This observation, while true, is entirely abstract. Some people who oppose
any action oppose it in the name of being open-minded. But here on the
list no one is criticizing anyone for acting, so it's not to the point.
And, incidentallyt, I'm an activist when school, work, and family allow.
--Justin

On Thu, 19 Sep 1996, Adam Rose wrote:

> 
> [ Some more musings ]
> 
> I also think that "Dogmatism" is a charge levelled at 
> people who act. In order to act decisively, it is necessary
> to be dogmatic.
> 
> When the course of action is not obvious, when a number of different
> factors need to be balanced, it needs great open mindness, a combination
> of art and science, to determine what the right course of action is.
> 
> But once the decision has been made, the decision has to be implemented
> dogmatically. Precisely because the course of action is not clear, in
> order to resolve the situation in practise, it is necessary to be dogmatic
> about the proposed resolution. It is only in this way that an open minded
> assessment of the correctness of the proposed resolution to mthe unclear
> situation can be made : if you implement a solution half cock in an unclear
> situation, it will never work, precisely because of the complexity of the
> situation.
> 
> Adam.
> 
> 
> 
> Adam Rose
> SWP
> Manchester
> UK
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
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