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| '''Agnosticism''' in its original sense (i.e., as coined by ] in the 1840s), is the belief that it is impossible (perhaps in principle |
'''Agnosticism''' in its original sense (i.e., as coined by ] in the 1840s), is the belief that it is impossible (in practice and perhaps in principle) to know for sure whether or not ] exists. It can also be applied to the belief that there is evenly-weighted evidence on both sides of the question of whether God exists. The word comes from the Greek ''a'' (no) and ''gnosis'' (knowledge). Among the most famous agnostics (in the original sense) were ], ], and ]. Russell's ''Why I Am Not a Christian'' is a classic text of agnosticism. It can be and has been argued that ] was an agnostic; one might infer that from his <i>Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion,</i> but this is a widely-debated question, and no one really knows for sure what religious views Hume held. | ||
| The term has come to be applied, by some, 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, ''].'' | The term has come to be applied, by some, 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, ''].'' | ||
Revision as of 10:59, 31 May 2002
Agnosticism in its original sense (i.e., as coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in the 1840s), is the belief that it is impossible (in practice and perhaps in principle) to know for sure whether or not God exists. It can also be applied to the belief that there is evenly-weighted evidence on both sides of the question of whether God exists. 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 can be and has been argued that David Hume was an agnostic; one might infer that from his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, but this is a widely-debated question, and no one really knows for sure what religious views Hume held.
The term has come to be applied, by some, 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.
See also atheism; God; religion; religiosity; secularism; listing of noted agnostics, deism, theism.