Agnosticism and Christianity and Other Essays

by Thomas Henry Huxley

In this selection of his most important writings, renowned scientist and philosopher Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895) discusses his views on the demonstrative evidence of evolution, the physical basis of life, naturalism and supernaturalism, agnosticism and Christianity, and the Christian tradition in relation to Judaic Christianity.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Science, Classics

242 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

About the author

Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS HonFRSE FLS was an English biologist and anthropologist specialising in comparative anatomy. He has become known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

In 1825, Thomas Henry Huxley was born in England. Huxley coined the term "agnostic" (although George Holyoake also claimed that honor). Huxley defined agnosticism as a method, "the essence of which lies in the rigorous application of a single principle . . . the axiom that every man should be able to give a reason for the faith that is in him." Huxley elaborated: "In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without any other consideration. And negatively, in matters of the intellect do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable" (from his essay "Agnosticism").

Huxley received his medical degree from Charing Cross School of Medicine, becoming a physiologist, and was awarded many other honorary degrees. He spent his youth exploring science, especially zoology and anatomy, lecturing on natural history, and writing for scientific publications. He was president of the Royal Society, and was elected to the London School Board in 1870, where he championed a number of common-sense reforms. Huxley earned the nickname "Darwin's Bulldog" when he debated Darwin's On the Origin of Species with Bishop Samuel Wilberforce in Oxford in 1860. When Wilberforce asked him which side of his family contained the ape, Huxley famously replied that he would prefer to descend from an ape than a human being who used his intellect "for the mere purpose of introducing ridicule into grave scientific discussion." Thereafter, Huxley devoted his time to the defense of science over religion. His essays included "Agnosticism and Christianity" (1889). His three rationalist grandsons were Sir Julian Huxley, a biologist, novelist Aldous Huxley, and Andrew Huxley, co-winner of a 1963 Nobel Prize. Huxley, appropriately, received the Darwin Medal in 1894. D. 1895.

More: http://freethoughtalmanac.com/?p=2093

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_H...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic...

http://www.iep.utm.edu/huxley/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/lib...

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/ev...

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A COLLECTION OF HUXLEY'S WRITINGS ON EVOLUTION, MIRACLES, AGNOSTICISM, CHRISTIANITY

Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895) was an English biologist, often called "Darwin's Bulldog" because of his spirited advocacy of Darwin's theory of evolution. He also wrote books such as 'On the Origin of Species, Or, The Causes of the Phenomena of Organic Nature,' 'Man's place in nature: And other anthropological essays,'etc.

In one of his lectures on evolution, he states, "Facts of this kind are undoubtedly fatal to any form of the doctrine of evolution which postulates the supposition that there is an intrinsic necessity, on the part of animal forms... to undergo continual modification; and they are as distinctively opposed to any view which involves the belief that such modification as may occur must take place, at the same rate, in all the different types of animal or vegetable life... Therefore, the stock objection to the hypothesis of evolution, based on the long duration of certain animals and vegetable types, is no objection at all." (Pg. 26-27)

About Agnosticism, he wrote, "I speak for myself alone. I am not aware that there is any sect of Agnostics; and if there be, I am not its acknowledged prophet or pope." (Pg. 143) Later, he states, "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... that 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. This is what Agnosticism asserts..." (Pg. 193)

He asserts, "whether Jesus sanctioned the demonological part of Christianity or not, I unhesitatingly reject it." (Pg. 206) He adds, "in so far as it can be proved that Jesus sanctioned the essentially pagan demonological theories current among the Jews of his age, exactly in so far, for me, will his authority in any matter touching the spiritual world be weakened." (Pg. 221)

This is an excellent and very diverse collection of Huxley's writings, that will be of considerable interest to both scientific and philosophical minds.

[Keith Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in college.
It was supportive of a change in thought to rejection of the supernatural in religious doctrine.