doctrinaires
Stubborn political purists
Doctrinaires are people rigidly devoted to a doctrine or theory, applying abstract principles without regard for practical circumstances.
The term is pejorative—it suggests someone who prioritizes ideological purity over what actually works: The doctrinaires in the party blocked any compromise.
A doctrinaire (also an adjective) values theoretical consistency above pragmatic results.
Adherents of fixed doctrines
- puristsStrict adherence advocates
- hardlinersUncompromising faction members
- dogmatistsBelievers in fixed principles
- theoristsBuilders of explanatory frameworks
zealots · fundamentalists · partisans · extremists · radicals · ultras · absolutists · factionalists
Developers of abstract frameworks
- philosophersSeekers of fundamental truths
- systematizersOnes who arrange methodically
- abstractionistsArtists favoring non-representational work
- pedantsThose fixated on minutiae
academics · scholastics · rationalists · dogmatists · purists · formalists · idealists · absolutists
Rigid interpreters of doctrine
- zealotsFanatical cause followers
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- dogmatistsBelievers in fixed principles
- literalistsThose reading without interpretation
fanatics · sectarians · true believers · absolutists · canonists · theologians · traditionalists · legalists
ideologues
Adherents of fixed doctrines
- puristsStrict adherence advocates
- hardlinersUncompromising faction members
- dogmatistsBelievers in fixed principles
theorists · zealots · fundamentalists · partisans · extremists · radicals · ultras · absolutists · factionalists · idealists
theoreticians
Developers of abstract frameworks
- philosophersSeekers of fundamental truths
- systematizersOnes who arrange methodically
- abstractionistsArtists favoring non-representational work
pedants · academics · scholastics · rationalists · dogmatists · purists · formalists · idealists · absolutists · metaphysicians
fundamentalists
Rigid interpreters of doctrine
- zealotsFanatical cause followers
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- dogmatistsBelievers in fixed principles
literalists · fanatics · sectarians · true believers · absolutists · canonists · theologians · traditionalists · legalists · evangelists
doctrinairespragmatists
Those valuing practical results
realists · practitioners · opportunists · moderates · compromisers
doctrinairesfreethinkers
Independent-minded questioners of orthodoxy
empiricists · skeptics · experimentalists · agnostics · doubters