Isms for Doctrine or Philosophy

"Isms. Don't believe in them; can't believe without 'em!"


Here’s one M-Turker’s opinion on Futilitarianism:

Futilitarianism: Describing a state in which an absolute dictator forces people to do pointless things. In a futilitarian system, citizens are required to walk around with their right hands holding their left ears, and to say “lingatingaminga” every time they encounter a goose.

Those M-Turkers are so silly! In actuality, Futilitarianism is a philosophical movement referring to the belief that all human activity (or endeavour) is futile. Its roots are in the existentialist movement of the early 20th century.

More ruminations from fans of isms:

In classical philosophy, skepticism refers to the teachings and the traits of the Skeptikoi, a school of philosophers of whom it was said that they “asserted nothing but only opined” (Liddell and Scott). In this sense, philosophical skepticism, or Pyrrhonism, is the philosophical position that one should avoid the postulation of final truths. Turned on itself, skepticism would question that skepticism is a valid perspective at all.

For starters, I find the school of Skeptikoi a weird scrabble word! I just love the philosophical skepticism or Phyyhonism another fun scrabble word. And, might I add, another ism word for your list.

Being a skeptic of sorts myself, I like to push against the normal teachings about something and find out for myself if there is more information and other aspects of the subject that give you a different view. I like to make up my own mind, and normally don’t go with the crowd.

…I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe a word this fellow said.