Agnosticism Quote by Cornelius Van Til
“Agnosticism is epistemologically self-contradictory on its own assumptions because its claim to make no assertion about ultimate reality rests upon a most comprehensive assertion about ultimate reality.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Christian Apologetics, Cornelius Van Til, 1965
The claim that we cannot know ultimate reality is itself based on an implicit, broad claim about reality, making it contradictory.
In simple terms: Saying we can’t know reality actually assumes something about reality.
Key Takeaway
Question the hidden assumptions behind agnosticism.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
religion
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- theological debate
- academic discussion
- personal belief
- public discourse
Key Concepts
self-contradiction
assumption analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions underlie your own epistemic stance?
- Can agnosticism be reformulated without contradiction?
A Different Perspective
It may be seen as a rhetorical move rather than a logical flaw.
![“He [Christ] came to bring peace, to be sure, but the peace that He came to bring must be built upon the complete destruction of the power of darkness.” quote by Cornelius Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9a/cornelius-van-til-30277_built_he-christ-came-to-bring-peace-to-be-sure_557644.jpg)
![“[The intellect of fallen man] may be compared to a buzz-saw that is sharp and shining, ready to cut the boards that come to it. Let us say that a carpenter wishes to cut fifty boards for the purpose of laying the floor of a house. He has marked his boards. He has set his saw. He begins at one end…” quote by Cornelius Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a17/cornelius-van-til-30277_first-contact_the-intellect-of-fallen-man-may-be-compa_1082632.jpg)
