We suffer because we dogmatize. Rushing to conclusions about what we think the truth is, we rarely consider the possibility that we might be wrong. We’re oblivious to our hubris, the vain temptation that so easily seduces us into a most crippling addiction: the game of “who’s right?”. Our insatiable craving to play this game forces us to treat the search for truth like a boxing match, when it would be far more advantageous to approach it like working on a puzzle with a friend. The consequences of this cannot be overstated.

Throughout human history, our addiction to certainty has grown so severe that many of us would rather commit merciless acts of barbaric violence than put our beliefs to the test. It appears that the recent rise of political extremism can be largely traced to this alarmingly contagious disease: the global pandemic that we’re not talking about. The contamination appears to be vast, infecting what seems to be the bulk of humanity. One could liken it to a zombie apocalypse, where those infected are oblivious to their infection. Like a puppet to its master, a zombie is enslaved by its disease. So too, are we enslaved by parasitic dogmas.

The mind virus of dogmatism also appears to produce strife, dividing us into tribal identities. Plagued by our intolerant opinions, we refuse to talk to each other. This stifles any hope of productive conversation, ushering us deeper into echo chambers where we’ll never be heard by those we’re longing to persuade. We’re so obedient to our desire to be right that we would rather cut out family members, loved ones, and friends—than be open to the suggestion that we might be wrong. On a broader scale, this appears to be escalating social and political tensions: an ageless trend that has never seemed to generate desirable outcomes.

But the symptoms of dogmatism aren’t just social, they’re also mental. We label things we’re lacking, unable to attain, or capable of losing—as good, without having any firm basis for doing so. Likewise, we uncritically accept that existence is bad, that society is bad, that life is bad, that our lives are bad, that situations are bad, that people are bad, that we’re bad. But this is an evident path to self-torment.

We’ll always lack and lose things; we’ll always find something to judge. Just look on any social media platform and you’ll encounter an ocean of misery. Gasping for air, those infected by the dogmatic mind virus struggle to get their final point across. They cling to their fragile desires, before drowning in a sea of their own opinions.

It’s a shame they’re too proud to reach for the life raft.

Pyrrhonism is the raft. It’s the decision to quit playing the stuck-up game of “who’s right?” and to begin asking “what’s right?”. It’s having the humility to accept that we don’t have the answers, and the courage to continue the search. It’s also an uncommonly convenient asset for productive conversations, a path to inner peace, and the cure to dogmatism—a purgative medicine that’s been around for over 2,000 years. Sextus Empiricus called this the “cure by argument,” and we thankfully now have a small, but growing number of active seekers who are beginning to administer this cure for themselves and the countless others afflicted.

Enthusiasts of Pyrrhonism, Stoicism, Buddhism, philosophy, and self-help are among those who will most likely be attracted to this publication. Here, they may be pleased to find an accessible approach to Pyrrhonism optimized for the contemporary age. This will include philosophy breakdowns, modern applications, and practical exercises aligned with the teachings of Pyrrho, Timon, Agrippa, Aenesidemus, Sextus Empiricus, Montaigne, and all others who have sought to cure themselves and others of dogmatism.

Despite largely appealing to a niche audience, Cure by Argument is most importantly a philanthropic publication meant for those looking to liberate themselves and others from misery, deception, polarization, and extremism. Indeed, these needs seem to apply to most people, if not all. The matter is, none of us want to be deceived; we all want to be guided by honesty, not insanity. So why not explore this together? Let’s build a culture free from dogmatism, where we’ll continue the search for answers without making it into a competition, and without judgment.

We have a cure. Will you take it?