Definitions by Dumu The Void

Neoliberal Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs that define mainstream neoliberal thought—the often-unexamined assumptions about markets, competition, privatization, deregulation, and individualism that have dominated policy since the 1980s. Neoliberal orthodoxy includes specific commitments: that markets allocate resources more efficiently than states, that competition drives innovation and quality, that privatization improves services, that deregulation frees entrepreneurship, that individualism should trump collective provision, that growth solves all problems, and that there is no alternative to market-based organization. Like all orthodoxies, it provides a framework for policy thinking, but it functions as ideology—making market-based arrangements seem natural and inevitable, obscuring their failures and harms, and delegitimizing alternatives. Neoliberal orthodoxy determines what policies are considered "reasonable," what economic arrangements are "realistic," and who counts as a "serious" policy thinker versus a naive idealist.

Example: "She suggested that maybe some services are better provided publicly—and was dismissed as wanting to 'return to communism.' Neoliberal orthodoxy doesn't allow questioning of privatization; it's treated as obviously superior rather than contestable."

Neoliberal Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Liberal Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs that define mainstream liberalism—the often-unexamined assumptions about individual rights, freedom, equality, democracy, and progress that shape liberal societies. Liberal orthodoxy includes commitments: that individuals are the primary unit of society, that freedom means absence of coercion, that rights protect individuals from the state, that democracy is the best form of government, that progress happens through reform rather than revolution, and that liberal institutions (markets, courts, elections) are fundamentally just. Like all orthodoxies, it provides a framework for political thinking, but it can also function as ideology—making liberal arrangements seem natural and inevitable, obscuring their limitations and exclusions, and delegitimizing alternatives. Liberal orthodoxy determines what counts as "reasonable" political discourse, what policies are within the "overton window," and who counts as a "serious" political thinker versus a radical or reactionary.

Example: "He couldn't understand why anyone would question liberal democracy—not because he'd examined its limitations, but because liberal orthodoxy had made it seem like simply the way civilized societies organize themselves. The orthodoxy was invisible to him because he was inside it."

Liberal Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Late-Stage Capitalist Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs that define mainstream understanding of contemporary capitalism—the often-unexamined assumptions about how the current economic system works and what's possible within it. Late-stage capitalist orthodoxy includes commitments that go beyond classical capitalism: that financialization is natural, that gig work is the future, that austerity is necessary, that debt is inevitable, that privatization is always efficient, that global supply chains are optimal, that technological disruption is progress, and that there is no alternative to the current configuration of capital. It naturalizes features of contemporary capitalism that are actually historically specific—making precarious work, financial dominance, and corporate power seem like simply "how things are." Late-stage capitalist orthodoxy functions to foreclose imagination of alternatives, treating the current moment as the end of history and any deviation as naive or dangerous.

Example: "He accepted gig work, stagnant wages, and crumbling public services as just 'the way things are'—not because he'd thought about alternatives, but because late-stage capitalist orthodoxy had made precarity seem like common sense. The orthodoxy's power is making contingency feel like necessity."

Late-Stage Capitalist Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Capitalist Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs about capitalism that dominate mainstream economics, policy, and public discourse—the often-unexamined assumptions that markets are efficient, that growth is good, that privatization improves services, that competition drives innovation, and that capitalism is the only viable economic system. Capitalist orthodoxy includes specific commitments: that free markets allocate resources optimally, that regulation distorts efficiency, that inequality is the natural result of differential contribution, that economic growth is the primary measure of success, and that alternatives to capitalism are either impossible or disastrous. Like all orthodoxies, it provides a framework for thinking about economics, but it can also function as ideology—making capitalist arrangements seem natural and inevitable, obscuring exploitation and harm, and delegitimizing alternatives. Capitalist orthodoxy determines what questions economists ask, what policies are considered reasonable, and who counts as a "serious" economic thinker versus a naive idealist.

Example: "She suggested that maybe growth isn't always good—and was dismissed as economically illiterate by her colleagues. Capitalist orthodoxy doesn't allow questioning of its most fundamental assumptions; they're treated as self-evident rather than contestable."

Capitalist Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Western Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs, values, and practices that define mainstream Western civilization's self-understanding—the often-unexamined assumptions that shape what counts as normal, rational, and legitimate in Western societies. Western orthodoxy includes commitments to individualism, democracy, capitalism, human rights, progress, science, and secularism—not as contingent historical developments but as simply "how things should be." It frames Western history as the story of progress toward freedom and reason, non-Western societies as catching up or falling behind, and Western institutions (markets, elections, courts) as the natural models for all societies. Like all orthodoxies, Western orthodoxy serves to provide coherence and identity, but it can also function as ideology—making Western dominance seem natural and inevitable, obscuring violence and exploitation, and delegitimizing alternative ways of organizing society. Understanding Western orthodoxy is essential for recognizing the assumptions that shape global politics, economics, and culture—and for imagining alternatives.

Example: "He assumed that democracy and capitalism were simply the best ways to organize society—not because he'd examined alternatives, but because Western orthodoxy had made them seem like common sense. The orthodoxy was invisible to him because he was inside it."

Western Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Sociology of Orthodoxy

A branch of sociology that examines how orthodoxies are socially constructed, maintained, challenged, and transformed across different domains—religious, scientific, political, cultural. The sociology of orthodoxy investigates the social dynamics that produce and sustain consensus: how communities form around shared beliefs, how institutions enforce orthodoxy through rewards and sanctions, how dissenters are marginalized or incorporated, how orthodoxies shift through generational change and external pressure. It examines the role of power, status, and authority in shaping who gets to define orthodoxy; the relationship between orthodoxy and social identity (how belonging to an orthodox community becomes part of who we are); and the ways that orthodoxies persist through social inertia even when evidence shifts. The sociology of orthodoxy reveals that what counts as "settled truth" is never just a matter of evidence—it's always also a matter of social agreement, institutional power, and community dynamics.

Example: "Her sociology of orthodoxy research showed how scientific consensus forms through the same social processes as religious orthodoxy—networks of trust, authority of elders, rituals of confirmation, exclusion of heretics. The content differs, but the social dynamics are remarkably similar."

Sociology of Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Philosophy of Orthodoxy

A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, justification, and implications of orthodoxy as such—asking philosophical questions about what orthodoxies are, how they relate to truth, when they're legitimate, and when they become pathological. The philosophy of orthodoxy investigates the epistemology of consensus: Does widespread agreement constitute evidence for truth? How do we distinguish between healthy orthodoxy (based on compelling evidence) and pathological orthodoxy (based on institutional power)? It also examines the ethics of orthodoxy: the responsibilities of those who hold orthodox views, the rights of dissenters, and the institutional structures that should govern the relationship between consensus and heterodoxy. The philosophy of orthodoxy asks fundamental questions about the human tendency to form orthodoxies and the conditions under which this tendency serves or subverts the pursuit of truth and justice.

Example: "His philosophy of orthodoxy work asked whether any orthodoxy can be legitimate, or whether the very concept of orthodoxy is incompatible with genuine inquiry. The answer isn't simple, but the question reveals that orthodoxy needs philosophical examination, not just acceptance or rejection."

Philosophy of Orthodoxy by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026