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."

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."

by Abzugal March 16, 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."

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."

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."

by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

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."

by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026

Market Orthodoxy

The established, institutionalized set of beliefs about markets that dominate economics and policy—the often-unexamined assumptions that markets are efficient, that prices reflect value, that competition benefits consumers, that market outcomes are fair, and that market mechanisms should be extended to more and more domains of life. Market orthodoxy includes specific commitments: that supply and demand determine optimal prices, that market allocation is superior to planning, that market incentives drive innovation, that market discipline improves organizations, and that "market forces" are natural rather than constructed. Like all orthodoxies, it provides a framework for economic thinking, but it functions as ideology—making market arrangements seem natural and inevitable, obscuring how markets are created and maintained by state power, and delegitimizing non-market alternatives. Market orthodoxy determines what economic arrangements are considered "efficient," what policies are "distortions," and who counts as "economically literate."

Example: "He assumed that markets naturally produce optimal outcomes—not because he'd studied market failures, but because market orthodoxy had made that assumption seem like common sense. The orthodoxy's power is making its central claims feel like observations rather than assumptions."

by Dumu The Void March 17, 2026