Why Objectivism Rejects Agnosticism
The reason that Objectivism rejects agnosticism should be clear. This term applies not only to the question of God, but also to many other issues, such as:
- ESP
- Reincarnation
- Demonic possession
- Astrology
- The Arab claim of an international Zionist conspiracy
- The Marxist claim that the state will wither away
In regard to all such issues and claims, the agnostic says: "We can't prove that the claim is true. But we can't prove that it is false, either. So the only proper conclusion is: we don't know; no one knows; perhaps no one ever can know."
Agnosticism is not simply the pleading of ignorance. It enshrines ignorance as a philosophical viewpoint, demanding such a stance in response to claims devoid of Evidence. This viewpoint presents itself as fair, balanced, and impartial but is riddled with fallacies and prejudices. Agnostics treat arbitrary claims as matters deserving consideration, discussion, and evaluation. They allow that it is "possible" these claims might be "true," thereby misapplying cognitive descriptions to verbiage opposed to cognition. They demand proof of a negative, asserting it is up to others to demonstrate that there are no demons or that one's current life is not the result of a past life as an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
The passion for the arbitrary does not stem from a concern for logic but from emotions given precedence over reason. For some agnostics, this feeling is cowardice—"a fear of antagonizing people by taking a stand on contentious issues." For others, it is a more convoluted emotion akin to glee—"the malicious pleasure of subverting all ideas and baiting those with the integrity to hold convictions." This is the glee of the destroyer, the mind-hater, the nihilist.
In conclusion, logic is man's method ofknowledge and cannot be defaulted on without severe consequences, as emotionalists of all kinds attempt to do. Such a default exacts a fearsome toll—epistemologically, the worst there is: it removes the mental process from the realm of cognition. One cannot get something for nothing—not in material wealth nor in the field of knowledge. Truth, like knowledge, cannot be reached by accident but only through a process of reason.[1]