Unicorn agnosticism. Issue 8 (14th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Avnur, Yuval
• Is Part Of: Inquiry. Volume 64:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 818
• Page End: 829
• Publication Date: 2021-09-14
• Subjects: Philosophy of religion -- Epistemology -- philosophy of language -- agnosticism; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social Sciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Philosophie -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Philosophie -- Périodiques; 105
• DOI: 10.1080/0020174X.2019.1658635
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-174X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Atheists and agnostics have a vexed relationship. Atheists often regard agnostics as timid, or perhaps as disguised apologists. Agnostics often regard atheists as dogmatic hypocrites: they proclaim something on insufficient evidence, while accusing theists of this. This dynamic is familiar from the academic and popular literature. Here, I consider a more radical conflict between the two, based on Kripkean semantics for empty terms applied to atheism. Sorensen (2018. "Unicorn Atheism." Noûs 52 (2): 373–388) christened the Kripke-inspired formulation of atheism 'Unicorn Atheism' and argued from there to the incoherence of agnosticism. But, I argue, the objection fails and instead presents an opportunity to reformulate agnosticism. By appreciating the relevance of Kripkean semantics to the issue, a better understanding of the two positions, and their conflict, emerges.