THE PROBLEM OF LOGICALITY OF AGNOSTICISM Cover Image

THE PROBLEM OF LOGICALITY OF AGNOSTICISM
THE PROBLEM OF LOGICALITY OF AGNOSTICISM

Author(s): Fikret Osman
Subject(s): Epistemology, Logic, Philosophy of Religion
Published by: Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü
Keywords: Logic; Epistemology; Agnosticism; Theism; Atheism;

Summary/Abstract: The term agnosticism was introduced by Thomas Henry Huxley. With this term, Huxley tried to signify a neutral approach to believing in God. In other words, the agnosticism was used by him to designate the state between theism and atheism. Theism is a special kind of life which includes believing in God. There is in this kind of life a special kind of epistemology. This epistemology is valid only if we consider such a special kind of life. And there is in this kind of epistemology a special kind of logic. If we look at the theistic expressions from this point, we can see that they are valid and consistent. Whereas atheism is not a special kind of life. It is just an attitude against theism. Therefore there is not a special kind of epistemology and a special kind of logic in a certain atheistic life. An agnostic cannot be inclined towards any of these two ways because he will leave agnosticism if he chooses one of them. It means we cannot say that agnosticism has any epistemological or non-epistemological, logical or non-logical structure.

  • Issue Year: 5/2015
  • Issue No: 9
  • Page Range: 53-58
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: English