View source for Dissent

{{Short description|Non-agreement or opposition to authority}}
{{Other uses}}

[[Image:Dissent develops democracy sticker.jpg|thumb|[[Sticker art]] arguing that dissent is necessary for [[democracy]].]]

'''Dissent''' is an [[opinion]], [[philosophy]] or [[wikt:sentiment|sentiment]] of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing [[idea]] or [[policy]] enforced under the [[authority]] of a [[government]], [[political party]] or other [[Non-physical entity|entity]] or [[individual]]. A dissenting person may be referred to as a ''dissenter''.

==Philosophical==
{{Pyrrhonism sidebar}} 
In [[philosophical skepticism]], particularly that of [[Pyrrhonism]], the existence of dissent is a rationale for [[epoche|suspending judgment]] regarding the issue associated with the dissent. Dissent in this respect appears as one of the [[trope (philosophy)|tropes]] in the [[Agrippa the Skeptic#The Five Tropes|Five Modes of Agrippa]], pointing to the uncertainty demonstrated by the differences of opinions among philosophers and people in general.

==Political==
{{Main|Political dissent}}
{{See also|Freedom of speech|Civil disobedience|Sedition}}
[[Political dissent]] is a dissatisfaction with or opposition to the policies of a governing body. Expressions of dissent may take forms from vocal disagreement to [[civil disobedience]] to the use of [[violence]].<ref>[https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/protest-dissent.php "The difference between protest and dissent"], ''[[Columbia Journalism Review]]'' By Merrill Perlman, March 18, 2019</ref> In some [[political systems]], dissent may be formally expressed by way of [[Opposition (parliamentary)|opposition politics]], while [[political repression|politically repressive]] regimes may prohibit any form of dissent, leading to suppression of dissent and the encouragement of social or political [[activism]]. Individuals who do not conform or support the policies of certain states are known as "[[dissident]]s". Several thinkers have argued that a healthy society needs not only to protect, but also to encourage dissent.<ref>Bailey, Gordon ''Ideology: Structuring Identities in Contemporary Life'', p. 124</ref><ref>[[Jonathan Kozol|Kozol, J.]] (1981) Foreword. In Mackie, R. (Ed.), ''Literacy and revolution: The Pedagogy of Paulo Freire''. p. XV</ref>

==Religious==

===Heresy===
{{Main|Heresy}}

[[Heresy]] is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of such claims or beliefs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dictionary.reference.com/browse/heresy?s=t |title=Heresy &#124; Define Heresy at Dictionary.com |publisher=Dictionary.reference.com |access-date=2013-04-15}}</ref> Heresy is distinct from both [[apostasy]], which is the explicit renunciation of one's religion, principles or cause,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reference.com/browse/Apostasy |title=Apostasy &#124; Learn everything there is to know about Apostasy at |publisher=Reference.com |access-date=2013-04-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717065224/http://www.reference.com/browse/apostasy |archive-date=2013-07-17 }}</ref> and [[blasphemy]], which is an impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blasphemy |title=Definitions of "blasphemy" at Dictionary.com |publisher=Dictionary.reference.com |access-date=2015-11-27}}</ref>

The term is usually used to refer to violations of important [[religious law|religious]] teachings, but is used also of views strongly opposed to any generally accepted ideas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/heresy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720065026/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/heresy|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2012|title=heresy – definition of heresy in English from the Oxford dictionary|work=oxforddictionaries.com}}</ref> It is used in particular in reference to [[Heresy in Christianity|Christianity]], [[Heresy in Judaism|Judaism]], and [[Bid‘ah|Islam]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MwuUAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22heretics+rather+than+critics%22&pg=PA62 Daryl Glaser, David M. Walker (editors), ''Twentieth-Century Marxism'' (Routledge 2007] {{ISBN|978-1-13597974-4}}), p. 62</ref>

===Schism===
{{Main|Schism}}
A [[schism]] (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|z|ə|m}} {{respell|SIZ|əm}}, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|k|ɪ|z|ə|m}} {{respell|SKIZ|əm}} or, less commonly, {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|ɪ|z|ə|m}} {{respell|SHIZ|əm}}<ref>''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'' (2000) notes in [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/schism|the Free Dictionary] that ''"The word ''schism'', which was originally spelled ''scisme'' in English, is traditionally pronounced ''(sĭ′zəm)''. However, in the 16th century the word was respelled with an initial ''sch'' in order to conform to its Latin and Greek forms. From this spelling arose the pronunciation ''(skĭ′zəm)''. Long regarded as incorrect, it became so common in both British and American English that it gained acceptability as a standard variant. Evidence indicates, however, that it is now the preferred pronunciation, at least in American English. In a recent survey 61 percent of the Usage Panel indicated that they use ''(skĭ′zəm)'', while 31 percent said they use ''(sĭ′zəm)''. A smaller number, 8 percent, preferred a third pronunciation, ''(shĭ′zəm)''."''</ref>)  is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or [[religious denomination]]. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, such as the [[East–West Schism]] or the [[Great Western Schism]]. It is also used of a split within a non-religious organization or movement or, more broadly, of a separation between two or more people, be it brothers, friends, lovers, etc.

A ''schismatic'' is a person who creates or incites schism in an organization or who is a member of a splinter group. ''Schismatic'' as an adjective means pertaining to a schism or schisms, or to those ideas, policies, etc. that are thought to lead towards or promote schism.

In religion, the charge of schism is distinguished from that of [[heresy]], since the offence of schism concerns not differences of belief or doctrine but promotion of, or the state of, division.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Schism |volume=24 |page=327}}</ref> However, schisms frequently involve mutual accusations of heresy. In Roman Catholic teaching, every heresy is a schism, while there may be some schisms free of the added guilt of heresy.<ref>{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Schism |volume=13 |first=Jacques |last=Forget}}</ref> [[Religious liberalism|Liberal]] [[Protestantism]], however, has often preferred heresy over schism. [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] scholar [[James I. McCord]] (quoted with approval by the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]] [[Episcopal Diocese of Virginia|Bishop of Virginia]] [[Peter James Lee|Peter Lee]]) drew a distinction between them, teaching:  "If you must make a choice between heresy and schism, always choose heresy. As a schismatic, you have torn and divided the body of Christ. Choose heresy every time."<ref>{{cite journal | title = Heresy better idea than schism? | journal = Washington Times | date = 2004-01-31| url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/jan/31/20040131-120323-2290r/?page=all | access-date = 2010-07-05}}</ref>

==Military==
{{Main|Dissent by military officers and enlisted personnel}}
Officers and enlisted personnel regularly take an oral oath to support and defend the primary convening document (i.e. constitution, articles of confederation, ruling laws and statutes) and/or the supreme leader of the nation-state. There have been countless cases throughout human history where commissioned military officers and enlisted personnel—as individuals or small groups—have chosen to question and disobey the orders of their superior officers or the supreme leader of the state. Dissent by military officers falls into two main categories: violent and non-violent. In essence, when a military officer, military leader chooses to oppose the orders given to them by their superior officers or national leader, they must decide whether their counter-action will be violent or non-violent in nature and in aim.

==Judicial==
{{Main|Dissenting opinion}}
A [[dissenting opinion]] (or ''dissent'') is an [[Legal opinion|opinion]] in a [[legal case]] in certain legal systems written by one or more [[judge]]s expressing disagreement with the [[majority opinion]] of the [[court]] which gives rise to its judgment. When not necessarily referring to a legal decision, this can also be referred to as a '''minority report'''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111013010907/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/minority+report Definition of ''"minority report"'']. ''[[OED|Oxford Dictionaries Online]]''. Retrieved Nov 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/minority-report Definition of ''"minority report"''], ''[[Macmillan Dictionary]]'' Retrieved Nov 2012.</ref>

Dissenting opinions are normally written at the same time as the majority opinion and any [[concurring opinion]]s, and are also delivered and published at the same time.  A dissenting opinion does not create [[binding precedent]] nor does it become a part of [[case law]]. Even though they can sometimes be cited as a form of [[persuasive authority]] in subsequent cases when arguing that the court's [[Holding (law)|holding]] should be limited or overturned. In some cases, a previous dissent is used to spur a change in the law, and a later case may result in a majority opinion adopting a particular understanding of the law formerly advocated in dissent.  As with concurring opinions, the difference in opinion between dissents and majority opinions can often illuminate the precise holding of the majority opinion.

==Scientific ==
{{Main|Scientific dissent}}
[[Scientific dissent]] is dissent from [[scientific consensus]]. Disagreements can be useful for finding problems in underlying assumptions, methodologies, and reasoning, as well as for generating and testing new ways of tackling the unknown.<ref name=immki>de Melo‐Martín, I. and Intemann, K. (2013) [http://embor.embopress.org/content/14/3/231.short "Scientific dissent and public policy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522032314/http://embor.embopress.org/content/14/3/231.short |date=2023-05-22 }}. ''EMBO Reports'', '''14''' (3): 231–235. {{doi|10.1038/embor.2013.8}}</ref> In modern times, with the increased role of science on the society and the [[politicization of science]], a new aspect gained prominence: effects of scientific dissent on public policies.<ref name=immki/>

Scientific dissent is distinct from [[denialism]], which is a deliberate rejection of scientific consensus usually for commercial or ideological reasons.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Denialism: what is it and how should scientists respond? | author=Diethelm, Pascal | journal=The European Journal of Public Health | year=2009 | volume=19 | issue=1 | pages=2–4 | doi=10.1093/eurpub/ckn139 | pmid=19158101| doi-access= }}</ref>

==Organizational ==
{{Main|Organizational dissent}}
[[Organizational dissent]] is the "expression of disagreement or contradictory opinions about organizational practices and [[policies]]".<ref name="Kassing 1998">Kassing, J. W. (1998). [http://mcq.sagepub.com/content/12/2/183.short Development and Validation of the Organizational Dissent Scale]</ref> Since dissent involves disagreement it can lead to [[Organizational conflict|conflict]], which if not resolved, can lead to [[violence]] and struggle. As a result, many organizations send the message – [[Linguistics|verbally]] or [[Nonverbal communication|nonverbally]] – that dissent is discouraged. However, recent studies have shown that dissent serves as an important monitoring force within [[organizations]]. Dissent can be a [[warning sign]] for employee dissatisfaction or organizational decline. Redding (1985) found that receptiveness to dissent allows for corrective [[feedback]] to monitor [[unethical]] and [[immoral]] [[behavior]], impractical and ineffectual organizational practices and policies, poor and unfavorable [[decision making]], and insensitivity to employees' [[wikt:workplace|workplace]] needs and desires. Furthermore, Eilerman<ref name="Eilerman 2006">Eilerman, D. (January 2006). [http://www.mediate.com/articles/eilermanD1.cfm Conflict: Cost and opportunity.] Retrieved September 17, 2007</ref> argues that the hidden costs of silencing dissent include: wasted and lost [[time]], reduced [[Decision making|decision]] [[Quality (business)|quality]], [[emotional]] and [[Interpersonal relationship|relationship]] costs, and decreased [[Employment|job]] [[motivation]]. Perlow (2003) found that employee [[resentment]] can lead to a decrease in [[productivity]] and [[creativity]] which can result in the organization losing [[money]], [[time]], and [[Resource (economics)|resources]].

==See also==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [[Insubordination]]
* [[Dissident]]
* [[Eccentricity (behavior)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=In Defense of Troublemakers: The Power of Dissent in Life and Business |year=2018 |author=Charlan Jeanne Nemeth |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=978-0465096299}}

{{Conformity}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dissent| ]]
[[Category:Political opposition]]