agnosticism

English

Etymology

Coined by Thomas Henry Huxley. From a- + gnostic + -ism (see also agnostic).

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /æɡˈnɒstɪsɪzəm/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /æɡˈnɑstɪsɪzəm/
    • (file)

Noun

agnosticism (countable and uncountable, plural agnosticisms)

  1. The view that absolute truth or ultimate certainty is unattainable, especially regarding knowledge not based on experience or perceivable phenomena.
  2. The view that the existence of God or of all deities is unknown, unknowable, unproven, or unprovable.
  3. Doubt, uncertainty, or scepticism regarding the existence of a god or gods.
    • 1956, January 31st: Alan Alexander Milne; quoted in:
    • 1988: James B. Simpson, Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations, № 4,393 (Houghton Mifflin, →ISBN
      The Old Testament is responsible for more atheism, agnosticism, disbelief — call it what you will — than any book ever written; it has emptied more churches than all the counterattractions of cinema, motor bicycle and golf course.
  4. (by extension) Doubt, uncertainty, or scepticism regarding any subject of dispute.
    • 2009, B. Pontin, “Climate change agnosticism - its meaning and implications”, in Environmental Law and Management, volume 21, number 2, →ISSN, pages 55–57:

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

  • Appendix:Glossary of philosophical isms

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French agnosticisme. Equivalent to agnostic + -ism.

Noun

agnosticism n (uncountable)

  1. agnosticism

Declension

Swedish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aɡnɔstɪsˈɪsm/

Noun

agnosticism c

  1. agnosticism

Declension

Declension of agnosticism 
Uncountable
Indefinite Definite
Nominative agnosticism agnosticismen
Genitive agnosticisms agnosticismens

References

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