agnostismiettä

Agnosticism is a philosophical position that holds that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural, is unknown or unknowable. Agnostics do not assert that God does not exist, but rather that the question of God's existence is unanswerable or meaningless. This position can be contrasted with atheism, which asserts that God does not exist, and theism, which asserts that God does exist.

Agnosticism can be divided into two main types: weak agnosticism and strong agnosticism. Weak agnosticism holds that the existence of God is unknown, but that it is possible to know. Strong agnosticism, on the other hand, holds that the existence of God is unknowable, and thus it is impossible to know.

Agnosticism can also be divided into two main categories based on the nature of the unknown: evidential agnosticism and methodological agnosticism. Evidential agnosticism holds that the evidence for or against the existence of God is insufficient to justify a belief in either direction. Methodological agnosticism, on the other hand, holds that the methods used to investigate the existence of God are flawed or inadequate.

Agnosticism has been a significant philosophical position throughout history, with notable figures such as René Descartes, David Hume, and Bertrand Russell advocating for it. It continues to be a relevant and debated topic in contemporary philosophy and theology.