Ismology

[w] marks definitions from Wiktionary
[*] marks neologisms

Ismology is^[*] the study of isms: their nature, purpose and effects

An ism is^[w] “an ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism”
Exceptions include
theism is^[w] (inter alia) “a morbid condition resulting from excessive consumption of tea”
a truism is^[w] “a self-evident or obvious truth” or “a banality or cliché”.

An ismist is^[*] somebody who is unable to respond to any idea until he has determined which ism or isms it belongs to. He will then support or oppose it accordingly, regardless of its other merits or defects. Philosophy is significantly impaired by ismsists. Politics is infested and poisoned by them.

Political activity throughout the “free” world is based on political “parties”, and on conflict and confrontation between them. The party-based political system is essentially ismist: you decide which club/team/tribe you belong to, support them and all their policies, and oppose all other political parties. Any cooperation or flexibility is regarded as treachery rather than a constructive attempt to work together to find common solutions.

In politics we have communism, conservatism, fascism, socialism, Thatcherism, Blairism, Corbynism, liberalism. NonParty adheres to none of these. NonParty is constitutionally opposed to ismists and all forms of ismism^[*].

WJW/31Jan21