Definitions by Abzugal

Philosophy of Naturalistic Orthodoxy

A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, justification, and implications of naturalistic orthodoxy—asking philosophical questions about the foundations of naturalism itself. The philosophy of naturalistic orthodoxy investigates the epistemological status of naturalist commitments: Can naturalism justify itself without circularity? How do we know that nature is all that exists? What counts as evidence for naturalism, and what would count against it? It also examines the limits of naturalism: Can naturalism account for logic, mathematics, meaning, and value? Does naturalism's own claims presuppose something beyond nature? The philosophy of naturalistic orthodoxy is essential for naturalism to be self-aware rather than merely assumed, for naturalists to understand the philosophical foundations of their worldview rather than treating them as self-evident.

Example: "His philosophy of naturalistic orthodoxy work asked whether naturalism can account for its own most fundamental tool—logic. If logic is just a natural phenomenon, why think it's universally valid? Naturalism's confidence in reason may require something naturalism can't provide."

Philosophy of Naturalistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026

Naturalistic Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs that define mainstream naturalism—the view that nature is all that exists, that supernatural explanations are illegitimate, and that scientific methods are the only reliable paths to knowledge. Naturalistic orthodoxy includes core commitments: methodological naturalism (science should only invoke natural causes), ontological naturalism (only natural things exist), and epistemological naturalism (scientific knowledge is the only genuine knowledge). Like all orthodoxies, it serves necessary functions: enabling scientific inquiry, ruling out supernatural explanations, and providing a unified worldview. But like all orthodoxies, it can become dogmatic, resisting challenges and marginalizing views that question its assumptions. Naturalistic orthodoxy determines what counts as legitimate inquiry, what explanations are acceptable, and who counts as a "real" intellectual versus a mystic or theologian.

Example: "She suggested that indigenous knowledge systems might offer valid insights that don't fit naturalistic frameworks—and was accused of 'abandoning science' by her colleagues. Naturalistic orthodoxy doesn't allow that there might be other ways of knowing; it assumes its own methods are the only legitimate ones."

Naturalistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026

Sociology of Materialistic Orthodoxy

A branch of sociology that examines how materialistic orthodoxies are socially constructed, maintained, and challenged within scientific and philosophical communities. The sociology of materialistic orthodoxy investigates how materialism becomes the default position through scientific training, how it's maintained through institutional mechanisms (funding priorities, publication standards, hiring practices), how dissenters are marginalized or excluded, and how the orthodoxy responds to challenges from dualists, idealists, and other heretics. It also examines the role of materialism as a boundary marker—distinguishing "real" science from "pseudoscience," "serious" philosophy from "woo." The sociology of materialistic orthodoxy reveals that materialism's dominance isn't just about evidence; it's also about social power, institutional authority, and the natural human tendency to treat one's own assumptions as obviously true.

Example: "Her sociology of materialistic orthodoxy research showed how philosophy departments that questioned materialism were systematically excluded from prestige networks—not because their arguments were weak, but because they violated the orthodoxy that defined 'serious' philosophy. The social enforcement was invisible to those who benefited from it."

Sociology of Materialistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026

Philosophy of Materialistic Orthodoxy

A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, justification, and implications of materialistic orthodoxy—asking philosophical questions about the foundations of materialism itself. The philosophy of materialistic orthodoxy investigates the epistemological status of materialist commitments: Is materialism proven, or is it a working assumption? How do we know that matter is all that exists? What counts as evidence for materialism, and what would count against it? It also examines the conceptual coherence of materialism: Can materialism account for consciousness, meaning, and value? Does materialism's own claims about knowledge presuppose something beyond matter? The philosophy of materialistic orthodoxy is essential for materialism to be self-aware rather than merely assumed, for materialists to understand the philosophical foundations of their worldview rather than treating them as self-evident.

Example: "His philosophy of materialistic orthodoxy work asked whether materialism can account for its own existence—if thoughts are just brain states, then why think any are true rather than just caused? Materialism's claim to truth requires something materialism can't provide."

Philosophy of Materialistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026

Materialistic Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs that define mainstream materialism—the view that matter is the fundamental substance of reality and that all phenomena, including consciousness, can be explained in terms of material interactions. Materialistic orthodoxy includes core commitments: that the physical world is all that exists, that mental states are brain states, that explanations should be couched in physical terms, and that any appeal to non-material entities or forces is unscientific. Like all orthodoxies, it serves necessary functions: providing a unified framework for scientific inquiry, ruling out supernatural explanations, and enabling cumulative progress. But like all orthodoxies, it can become dogmatic, resisting challenges and marginalizing views that question its assumptions. Materialistic orthodoxy determines what questions are worth asking, what explanations count as legitimate, and who counts as a "real" scientist versus a mystic or dualist.

Example: "He suggested that consciousness might require explanations beyond current materialist frameworks—and was accused of being a 'woo-woo mystic' by his colleagues. Materialistic orthodoxy doesn't tolerate questions about its own foundations; it just assumes they're settled."

Materialistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026

Sociology of Antitheistic Orthodoxy

A branch of sociology that examines how antitheistic orthodoxies are socially constructed, maintained, and challenged—focusing on the communities, institutions, and dynamics that shape what counts as proper antitheism. The sociology of antitheistic orthodoxy investigates how antitheist consensus forms through shared narratives (the evils of religion, the crimes of faith), how orthodoxy is maintained through community policing (excluding those who question the narrative), how antitheist institutions (organizations, media, conferences) create and enforce boundaries, and how the movement responds to challenges from within and without. It also examines the role of identity in antitheist orthodoxy—how opposition to religion becomes central to members' sense of self, making deviation feel like betrayal. The sociology of antitheistic orthodoxy reveals that antitheism, despite its claims to rationality, is shaped by the same social forces as any other movement: community, identity, and the need to belong.

Example: "Her sociology of antitheistic orthodoxy research showed how the movement's origin stories—tales of escape from religious oppression—function like conversion narratives in religions, creating shared identity and binding members to the community's orthodoxy. The content is different, but the social function is the same."

Sociology of Antitheistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026

Philosophy of Antitheistic Orthodoxy

A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, justification, and implications of antitheistic orthodoxy—asking philosophical questions about the moral and intellectual foundations of active opposition to religion. The philosophy of antitheistic orthodoxy investigates the ethical status of antitheist commitments: Is religion really a net negative? How do we weigh harms and benefits across diverse religious traditions? What are the moral implications of antitheist activism? Is it justified to oppose all religion, or only harmful manifestations? It also examines the epistemological assumptions of antitheism: How do we know religion is harmful? What evidence would count against this view? How certain can we be? The philosophy of antitheistic orthodoxy is essential for antitheism to be self-aware rather than merely reactive, for antitheists to understand the ethical and epistemological foundations of their position rather than just assuming them.

Example: "His philosophy of antitheistic orthodoxy work asked whether the claim that 'religion poisons everything' is itself a kind of faith—an assertion beyond evidence, immune to counterexample. The question isn't whether religion causes harm, but whether antitheism can acknowledge complexity without collapsing."

Philosophy of Antitheistic Orthodoxy by Abzugal March 16, 2026