agnosticism

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

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

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 31^st: 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 1067-6058, pages 55-57:

• deism

• agnostic
• agnostically
• agnostics

• Appendix:Glossary of philosophical isms

Borrowed from French agnosticisme.

agnosticism n (uncountable)

1. agnosticism

• IPA^(key): /aɡnɔstɪsˈɪsm/

agnosticism c

1. agnosticism