Theological noncognitivism is the non-theist position that religious language, particularly theological terminology such as 'God', is not intelligible or meaningful, and thus sentences like 'God exists' are cognitively meaningless.[1] This would also imply that sentences like the negation of 'God exists' or 'God does not exist' are likewise meaningless, i.e., neither true nor false. It may be considered synonymous with ignosticism (also called igtheism), a term coined in 1964 by Sherwin Wine, a rabbi and a founding figure of Humanistic Judaism.[2]
Theological noncognitivists argue in different ways, depending on what one considers the "theory of meaning" to be.
One argument holds to the claim that definitions of God are irreducible, self-instituting relational, circular. For example, a sentence stating that "God is He who created everything, apart from Himself", is seen as circular rather than an irreducible truth.
Michael Martin writing from a verificationist perspective concludes that religious language is meaningless because it is not verifiable.[3][4]
George H. Smith uses an attribute-based approach in an attempt to prove that there is no concept for God: he argues that there are no meaningful attributes, only negatively defined or relational attributes, making the term meaningless. An example: Consider the proposition of the existence of a "pink unicorn". When asserting the proposition, one can use attributes to at least describe the concept such that a cohesive idea is transferred in language. With no knowledge of "pink unicorn", it can be described minimally with the attributes "pink", "horse", and "horn". Only then can the proposition be accepted or rejected. The acceptance or rejection of the proposition is distinct from the concept.[5][6]
Relationship to other non-theist perspectivesedit
Steven J. Conifer contrasts theological noncognitivism with positive atheism, which describes not only a lack of a belief in gods but furthermore denies that gods exist thereby giving credence to the existence of a concept of something for "God" to refer to, because it assumes that there is something understandable to not believe in.[1]
Paul Kurtz finds the view to be compatible with both weak atheism and agnosticism.[7] However, Theodore Drange distinguishes noncognitivism and agnosticism, describing the latter as accepting that theological language is meaningful but being noncommittal about its truth or falsity on the grounds of insufficient evidence.[8]
Conifer, Steven J. (June 2002). . The Interlocutor. 4. Archived from the original on January 23, 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
Drange, Theodore (1998). "Atheism, Agnosticism, Noncognitivism". Internet Infidels. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
Kurtz, Paul (1992). The New Skepticism: Inquiry and Reliable Knowledge. Buffalo: Prometheus Books. ISBN0-87975-766-3. Both [atheism and agnosticism] are consistent with igtheism, which finds the belief in a metaphysical, transcendent being basically incoherent and unintelligible.
Lazarus, James (2004). "The Argument from Non-Cognitivism". Strong Atheism.
Martin, Michael (1999). "Positive Atheism and The Meaninglessness of Theism". Internet Infidels.
Rauch, Jonathan (2003). "Let It Be". The Atlantic. Vol. 291, no. 4. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
Smith, George H. (1979). Atheism: The Case Against God. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus. ISBN0-87975-124-X.
Spiegel, Irving (1965). "Jewish 'Ignostic' Stirs Convention; Dropping of 'God' in Service Deplored and Condoned". New York Times. p. 62.
External linksedit
Look up theological noncognitivism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Look up ignosticism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
January 01, 1970
theological, noncognitivism, theist, position, that, religious, language, particularly, theological, terminology, such, intelligible, meaningful, thus, sentences, like, exists, cognitively, meaningless, this, would, also, imply, that, sentences, like, negation. Theological noncognitivism is the non theist position that religious language particularly theological terminology such as God is not intelligible or meaningful and thus sentences like God exists are cognitively meaningless 1 This would also imply that sentences like the negation of God exists or God does not exist are likewise meaningless i e neither true nor false It may be considered synonymous with ignosticism also called igtheism a term coined in 1964 by Sherwin Wine a rabbi and a founding figure of Humanistic Judaism 2 Contents 1 Arguments 2 Relationship to other non theist perspectives 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksArguments editTheological noncognitivists argue in different ways depending on what one considers the theory of meaning to be One argument holds to the claim that definitions of God are irreducible self instituting relational circular For example a sentence stating that God is He who created everything apart from Himself is seen as circular rather than an irreducible truth Michael Martin writing from a verificationist perspective concludes that religious language is meaningless because it is not verifiable 3 4 George H Smith uses an attribute based approach in an attempt to prove that there is no concept for God he argues that there are no meaningful attributes only negatively defined or relational attributes making the term meaningless An example Consider the proposition of the existence of a pink unicorn When asserting the proposition one can use attributes to at least describe the concept such that a cohesive idea is transferred in language With no knowledge of pink unicorn it can be described minimally with the attributes pink horse and horn Only then can the proposition be accepted or rejected The acceptance or rejection of the proposition is distinct from the concept 5 6 Relationship to other non theist perspectives editSteven J Conifer contrasts theological noncognitivism with positive atheism which describes not only a lack of a belief in gods but furthermore denies that gods exist thereby giving credence to the existence of a concept of something for God to refer to because it assumes that there is something understandable to not believe in 1 Paul Kurtz finds the view to be compatible with both weak atheism and agnosticism 7 However Theodore Drange distinguishes noncognitivism and agnosticism describing the latter as accepting that theological language is meaningful but being noncommittal about its truth or falsity on the grounds of insufficient evidence 8 See also editApophatic theology Conceptions of God Fideism Ietsism Ineffability Mysticism Newton s flaming laser sword Problem of religious language Thought terminating cliche Eliminative materialismReferences edit a b Conifer 2002 Spiegel 1965 Martin 1990 Martin 1994 sfnp error no target CITEREFMartin1994 help Smith 1979 Lazarus 2004 Kurtz 1992 Drange 1998 Bibliography editConifer Steven J June 2002 Theological Noncognitivism Examined The Interlocutor 4 Archived from the original on January 23 2004 Retrieved 24 May 2007 Drange Theodore 1998 Atheism Agnosticism Noncognitivism Internet Infidels Retrieved 2007 03 26 Kurtz Paul 1992 The New Skepticism Inquiry and Reliable Knowledge Buffalo Prometheus Books ISBN 0 87975 766 3 Both atheism and agnosticism are consistent with igtheism which finds the belief in a metaphysical transcendent being basically incoherent and unintelligible Lazarus James 2004 The Argument from Non Cognitivism Strong Atheism Martin Michael 1990 Atheism A Philosophical Justification Temple University Press ISBN 978 0 87722 642 0 Martin Michael 1999 Positive Atheism and The Meaninglessness of Theism Internet Infidels Rauch Jonathan 2003 Let It Be The Atlantic Vol 291 no 4 Retrieved 2007 05 24 Smith George H 1979 Atheism The Case Against God Buffalo New York Prometheus ISBN 0 87975 124 X Spiegel Irving 1965 Jewish Ignostic Stirs Convention Dropping of God in Service Deplored and Condoned New York Times p 62 External links edit nbsp Look up theological noncognitivism in Wiktionary the free dictionary nbsp Look up ignosticism in Wiktionary the free dictionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theological noncognitivism amp oldid 1218511445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
