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| As noted above, the term may be applied to the simple failure to hold that God does or does not exist (i.e., not taking a stand). In this sense, the twentieth century ], such as ] and ]--who believed that talk of God and perforce considerations of whether one can know that God exists are simply ''nonsense''--would count as agnostics. The ] tradition of atheism calls "agnosticism," used in this sense, ''].'' | As noted above, the term may be applied to the simple failure to hold that God does or does not exist (i.e., not taking a stand). In this sense, the twentieth century ], such as ] and ]--who believed that talk of God and perforce considerations of whether one can know that God exists are simply ''nonsense''--would count as agnostics. The ] tradition of atheism calls "agnosticism," used in this sense, ''].'' | ||
| '''Note:''' agnosticism does ''not'' signify the non-belief in ], which is an entirely different matter. | |||
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Revision as of 12:36, 9 March 2003
Agnosticism in its original sense (i.e., as coined by Thomas Henry Huxley), refers to the following principles: "In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable" (Huxley, Agnosticism, 1889). The term may also be applied to the belief that there is evenly-weighted evidence on both sides of the question of God's existence, the belief that we are in no position to judge the evidence on either side, the belief that we cannot judge the evidence, the belief that we cannot know one way or the other, the condition of lacking a belief in theism and atheism both, and various other 'non-committal' approaches to the question of God's existence.
The word comes from the Greek a (no) and gnosis (knowledge). Among the most famous agnostics (in the original sense) were Huxley, Charles Darwin, and Bertrand Russell. Russell's Why I Am Not a Christian is a classic text of agnosticism. It has been argued from his works, especially Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, that David Hume was an agnostic, this however remains subject to debate.
As noted above, the term may be applied to the simple failure to hold that God does or does not exist (i.e., not taking a stand). In this sense, the twentieth century logical positivists, such as Rudolph Carnap and A. J. Ayer--who believed that talk of God and perforce considerations of whether one can know that God exists are simply nonsense--would count as agnostics. The freethinking tradition of atheism calls "agnosticism," used in this sense, negative atheism.
Note: agnosticism does not signify the non-belief in gnosticism, which is an entirely different matter.