(August 15, 2015 at 11:10 am)Mr.wizard Wrote: Could you explain the difference between Agnosticism and Ignosticism? I looked up the definitions but I'm still confused.
robvalue can answer for himself, but the distinguishing characteristic of ignosticism is the idea that the term "god" is meaningless. Therefore, saying "god exists" is like saying "sdfadsafdjsl exits." In other words, it is not really saying anything.
A standard agnostic is someone who does not say that the term "god" is meaningless, but says that he or she does not know whether god exists or not. The ignostic says that the question of "god's" existence is meaningless and therefore nothing is being asked when one utters, "does god exist?"
To give more details, to the question "Does god exist?"
Theist: Yes.
Agnostic: I don't know.
Weak atheist: I do not believe god exists (and do not believe god does not exist). (The weak atheist simply does not believe the statement "god exists" and does not affirm that god does not exist.)
Strong atheist: No.
Ignostic: Your question is meaningless.
As you can see from the link to ignosticism, there is some dispute over whether ignosticism is compatible with agnosticism or some form of atheism. Also, an ignostic may simply say he or she is an atheist when asked such things, to avoid having to explain his or her position and to give a simple answer that gives at least an approximation of their position (that is, it is more akin to atheism than theism).
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
