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Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the…

“Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle. That principle is of great antiquity; it is as old as Socrates; as old as the writer who said, 'Try all things, hold fast by that which is good'; it is the foundation of…” quote by Thomas Henry Huxley
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““Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method, the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle. That principle is of great antiquity; it is as old as Socrates; as old as the writer who said, 'Try all things, hold fast by that which is good'; it is the foundation of the Reformation, which simply illustrated the axiom that every man should be able to give a reason for the faith that is in him, it is the great principle of Descartes; it is the fundamental axiom of modern science. Positively the principle may be expressed: In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable. That I take to be the agnostic position, which if a man keep whole and undefiled, he shall not be ashamed to look the universe in the face, whatever the future may have in store for him. The results of the working out of the agnostic principle will vary according to individual knowledge and capacity, and according to the general condition of science. That which is unproved today may be proved, by the help of new discoveries, tomorrow. The only negative fixed points will be those negations which flow from the demonstrable limitation of our faculties. And the only obligation accepted is to have the mind always open to conviction. That it is wrong for a man to say he is certain of the objective truth of a proposition unless he can provide evidence which logically justifies that certainty. This is what agnosticism asserts and in my opinion, is all that is essential to agnosticism.””

Thomas Henry Huxley

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Agnosticism is a methodological stance that demands evidence‑based belief and keeps the mind open to new proof, rejecting certainty without demonstration.

In simple terms: Agnosticism means believing only what can be proven.

Key Takeaway

Base beliefs on evidence, stay open to revision.

Themes

knowledge skepticism intellectual honesty science philosophy

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive cautious

Type

philosophical educational inspirational

When to use this quote

  • academic debate
  • personal belief formation
  • scientific research
  • public policy discussions
  • education curricula

Key Concepts

Epistemology methodology critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you handle uncertainty in daily decisions?
  • When is it acceptable to act without full proof?
A Different Perspective

It may be impractical when decisions require action despite incomplete data.

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