It is wrong for a man to say that he is certain of the objective truth of any proposition unless he can produce evidence which logically justifies that certainty.
Thomas HuxleyRead
Agnosticism is not properly described as a "negative" creed, nor indeed as a creed of any kind, except in so far as it expresses absolute faith in the validity of a principle which is as much ethical as intellectual.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Agnosticism embraces a commitment to questioning and understanding rather than adhering to definitive beliefs.
In this quote, Thomas Huxley suggests that agnosticism should not be seen merely as a denial of belief or an empty stance; instead, it embodies a profound commitment to the principles of inquiry and ethics. Huxley emphasizes that agnosticism is rooted in the belief that both ethical and intellectual considerations should guide our understanding of truth and reality, indicating that the pursuit of knowledge is inherently an ethical responsibility.
Themes
AgnosticismFaithKnowledgeEthicsInquiry
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a philosophical debate about the nature of belief and knowledge.
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Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair" will not curl less gracefully outside the head by reason of there being brains within.
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It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
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Of the few innocent pleasures left to men past middle life, the jamming of common sense down the throats of fools is perhaps the keenest.
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