Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: August 16, 2025, 6:10 pm

Thread Rating:
  • 1 Vote(s) - 1 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
What is the right definition of agnostic?
#15
RE: What is the right definition of agnostic?
T.H. Huxley introduced a definition of agnosticism in the 19th century. His agnosticism was that neither the existence nor non-existence of God could ultimately be known, and that positions on the topic were akin to groundless speculation. That's one take on the term. Another take is that given by Robvalue above, that agnosticism has to do only with knowledge and not belief. Both usages have historical and contemporary justifications, so neither is more right than the other. What's important is simply to be clear which usage one has in mind when someone else uses the term, and being open to both uses.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/99/Huxleys_Agnosticism
[Image: extraordinarywoo-sig.jpg]
Reply



Messages In This Thread
What is the right definition of agnostic? - by Red_Wind - June 23, 2016 at 5:11 am
RE: What is the right definition of agnostic? - by Angrboda - June 23, 2016 at 5:28 pm
RE: What is the right definition of agnostic? - by AFTT47 - November 7, 2016 at 4:18 pm
RE: What is the right definition of agnostic? - by chimp3 - June 26, 2016 at 11:19 am
RE: What is the right definition of agnostic? - by brewer - November 7, 2016 at 3:48 pm
RE: What is the right definition of agnostic? - by abaris - November 7, 2016 at 5:55 pm

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Question from an agnostic chrisNub 41 13059 March 30, 2018 at 7:28 am
Last Post: robvalue
  My brother who used to be a devout Muslim is now agnostic Lebneni Murtad 4 1899 March 21, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Last Post: Mr Greene
  Well, I just can't change that I'm Agnostic... LivingNumbers6.626 15 4331 July 6, 2016 at 4:33 am
Last Post: Alex K
  Everyone is Agnostic z7z 16 4580 June 26, 2016 at 10:36 am
Last Post: Whateverist
  Can you persuade me from Agnostic to Atheist? AgnosticMan123 160 37187 June 6, 2016 at 10:43 pm
Last Post: Adam Blackstar
  My siblings are agnostic, should I try discussing atheism with them? CindyBaker 17 4951 April 18, 2016 at 9:27 am
Last Post: LostLocke
  Albert Einstein the Agnostic MattB 21 8084 February 23, 2016 at 11:45 pm
Last Post: MattB
  Definition of "atheism" Pyrrho 23 11192 November 19, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Last Post: Ludwig
  A practical definition for "God" robvalue 48 20138 September 26, 2015 at 9:23 am
Last Post: ignoramus
  Atheist or Agnostic? datc 126 45584 April 6, 2015 at 10:28 pm
Last Post: Pizza



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)