Irenaeus, Siteadmin, Check users, oversight, Administrators
351,445
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − + + +
no edit summary
[[File:T.H.Huxley.jpg|thumb|200px|thumbnail|right|[[T. H. Huxley]] coined the word "agnostic".]]
[[File:T.H.Huxley.jpg|thumb|200px|thumbnail|right|[[T. H. Huxley]] coined the word "agnostic".]]
[[Agnosticism]] is, in weaker forms, an affirmation of [[ignorance]] regarding the existence of a [[God]] or [[gods]], and in stronger forms, the assertion that the existence of a [[deity]] or deities is unknowable. By contrast [[atheism]] is a strong form of [[ignorance]] that denies the existence of God.<ref>*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 17, 2014.</ref> See: [[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic]]
[[Agnosticism]] is, in weaker forms, an affirmation of [[ignorance]] regarding the existence of a [[God]] or [[gods]], and in stronger forms, the assertion that the existence of a [[deity]] or deities is unknowable. The leading encyclopedias of philosophy argue, by contrast that [[atheism]] is a strong form of [[ignorance]] that denies the existence of God.<ref>*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 17, 2014.</ref> See: [[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic]]
The proponent of the weaker form does not make a claim to knowledge about existence, but he simply suspends from making a decision. A suspension of decision, in terms of [[logic]], does not have a [[truth]] value, and therefore they are not making an argument. The proponent of the stronger form goes a step further and makes a claim to knowledge by saying, ''I know that the existence of God cannot be known''.
In terms of contemporary definitions of atheism, the ''Webster-Merriam Dictionary'' [[Definition of atheism|defines atheism]] in two ways: "1) a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods 2) a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods."<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism Atheism], ''Webster-Merriam'' dictionary</ref> The online version of the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defines atheism as "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods."<ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/atheism Atheism], Oxford online dictionary</ref>
The proponent of the weaker form of agnosticism does not make a claim to knowledge about existence, but he simply suspends from making a decision. A suspension of decision, in terms of [[logic]], does not have a [[truth]] value, and therefore they are not making an argument. The proponent of the stronger form goes a step further and makes a claim to knowledge by saying, ''I know that the existence of God cannot be known''.
The word "agnostic" was coined in 1869 by [[T. H. Huxley]]<ref>T. H. Huxley was also an early and influential supporter of [[Darwinism]].</ref> from the [[Greek language|Greek]] roots ''a-'' not, and ''-gnostic,'' knowing; the [[philosopher]] [[Herbert Spencer]] was influential in spreading its use. One nineteenth century saw held that "There is no god but the Unknowable, and Herbert Spencer is his prophet."<ref>London, Jack (1913), ''Martin Eden,'' [http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/MartinEden/chapter13.html Chapter 13]</ref>
The word "agnostic" was coined in 1869 by [[T. H. Huxley]]<ref>T. H. Huxley was also an early and influential supporter of [[Darwinism]].</ref> from the [[Greek language|Greek]] roots ''a-'' not, and ''-gnostic,'' knowing; the [[philosopher]] [[Herbert Spencer]] was influential in spreading its use. One nineteenth century saw held that "There is no god but the Unknowable, and Herbert Spencer is his prophet."<ref>London, Jack (1913), ''Martin Eden,'' [http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/MartinEden/chapter13.html Chapter 13]</ref>