Difference between revisions of "History of agnosticism"
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The abstract for the ''British Journal for the History of Science'' journal article ''Huxley and scientific agnosticism: the strange history of a failed [[Rhetoric|rhetorical]] strategy'' by B. Lightman declares: | The abstract for the ''British Journal for the History of Science'' journal article ''Huxley and scientific agnosticism: the strange history of a failed [[Rhetoric|rhetorical]] strategy'' by B. Lightman declares: | ||
{{Cquote|Huxley's invention of the term 'agnostic' in 1869 is often seen as a brilliant rhetorical strategy. Portrayed as an effective weapon in Huxley's public debates with defenders of the Anglican establishment, the creation of scientific agnosticism has been interpreted as a turning point in the relationship between [[science]] and religion. In this paper I will challenge this interpretation of the rise of scientific agnosticism. Huxley was reluctant to identify himself unambiguously as an agnostic in public until 1883 and his restricted use of agnostic concepts during the 1870s and 1880s was compromised when other unbelievers, with different agendas, sought to capitalize on the polemical advantages of referring to themselves as agnostics. As a result, he was not always associated with agnosticism in the public mind and his original conception of it was modified by others to the point where he felt compelled to intervene in 1889 to set the record straight. But Huxley could not control the public meaning of 'agnosticism' and its value to him as a rhetorical strategy was severely limited.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12395796 Br J Hist Sci. 2002 Sep;35(126 Pt 3):271-89.]</ref>}} | {{Cquote|Huxley's invention of the term 'agnostic' in 1869 is often seen as a brilliant rhetorical strategy. Portrayed as an effective weapon in Huxley's public debates with defenders of the Anglican establishment, the creation of scientific agnosticism has been interpreted as a turning point in the relationship between [[science]] and religion. In this paper I will challenge this interpretation of the rise of scientific agnosticism. Huxley was reluctant to identify himself unambiguously as an agnostic in public until 1883 and his restricted use of agnostic concepts during the 1870s and 1880s was compromised when other unbelievers, with different agendas, sought to capitalize on the polemical advantages of referring to themselves as agnostics. As a result, he was not always associated with agnosticism in the public mind and his original conception of it was modified by others to the point where he felt compelled to intervene in 1889 to set the record straight. But Huxley could not control the public meaning of 'agnosticism' and its value to him as a rhetorical strategy was severely limited.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12395796 Br J Hist Sci. 2002 Sep;35(126 Pt 3):271-89.]</ref>}} | ||
| + | == Thomas Huxley vs. Anglican Samuel Wilberforce debate == | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''See also:'' [[Agnosticism debates]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://creation.com/could-monkeys-type-the-23rd-psalm Thomas Huxley vs. Anglican Samuel Wilberforce debate] | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} | {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} | ||
[[Category: Agnosticism]] | [[Category: Agnosticism]] | ||
Revision as of 23:56, June 18, 2016
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.[1] 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.
The word "agnostic" was coined in 1869 by T. H. Huxley[2] from the 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."[3]
History of the word agnosticism
See also: Atheism and science and History of atheism and Christianity and science
The abstract for the British Journal for the History of Science journal article Huxley and scientific agnosticism: the strange history of a failed rhetorical strategy by B. Lightman declares:
| “ | Huxley's invention of the term 'agnostic' in 1869 is often seen as a brilliant rhetorical strategy. Portrayed as an effective weapon in Huxley's public debates with defenders of the Anglican establishment, the creation of scientific agnosticism has been interpreted as a turning point in the relationship between science and religion. In this paper I will challenge this interpretation of the rise of scientific agnosticism. Huxley was reluctant to identify himself unambiguously as an agnostic in public until 1883 and his restricted use of agnostic concepts during the 1870s and 1880s was compromised when other unbelievers, with different agendas, sought to capitalize on the polemical advantages of referring to themselves as agnostics. As a result, he was not always associated with agnosticism in the public mind and his original conception of it was modified by others to the point where he felt compelled to intervene in 1889 to set the record straight. But Huxley could not control the public meaning of 'agnosticism' and its value to him as a rhetorical strategy was severely limited.[4] | ” |
Thomas Huxley vs. Anglican Samuel Wilberforce debate
See also: Agnosticism debates
Notes
- ↑ *Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). "Atheism and agnosticism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ↑ T. H. Huxley was also an early and influential supporter of Darwinism.
- ↑ London, Jack (1913), Martin Eden, Chapter 13
- ↑ Br J Hist Sci. 2002 Sep;35(126 Pt 3):271-89.