What is iconoclast?

Iconoclast refers to a person who challenges or opposes traditional beliefs or values, especially religious or cultural ones. The term is derived from the Greek words "eikon," which means image, and "klastes," which means breaker or smasher, suggesting the destruction of images or icons.

Iconoclasts may be motivated by a variety of reasons, such as a desire for reform, a rejection of established authority, a sense of individualism, or a belief that certain practices or institutions are harmful or outdated. Iconoclasm has appeared in various historical periods and cultural contexts, including Early Christianity, the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, and modern political and social movements.

The term "iconoclast" can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who challenges conventional wisdom, breaks new ground, or disrupts established patterns in any field of endeavor, such as science, art, or business.