Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Is agnosticism actually true… or false?
Most people assume agnosticism is merely a kind of middle position between belief and disbelief, subject to the same kind of truth or falsity that belief and disbelief are. But in this video, we argue that this assumption is mistaken. Withholding belief—what we often call “agnosticism”—is not even the kind of thing that can be accurate or inaccurate at all.
That raises a deeper question:
👉 Are we thinking about belief, doubt, and truth in the wrong way?
Drawing from contemporary epistemology, Chris and I explain why withholding belief doesn’t function like belief or disbelief, and why that matters for how we evaluate what it means to be rational—especially in contexts like faith, skepticism, and religious commitment.
📄 Related paper
This video is based on my paper:
“Withholding is Not Assessable for Accuracy” (with Chris Tucker)
Chris and I presented this paper at the Inquiry Network work-in-progress group on March 10, 2026.
For more info about Chris's work: philpeople.org/profiles/chris-tucker
For more on the Inquiry Network: inquirynetwork.weebly.com
💬 Join the conversation
Do you think agnosticism is fundamentally different than belief and disbelief, in that is it not true or false?
What implications might this have for faith, skepticism, and the ever so popular (online) "lack-theism"?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
🔔 Subscribe for more
If you’re interested in philosophy of religion, epistemology, and thoughtful Christian engagement with big questions, consider subscribing.
🏷️ Tags: agnosticism, philosophy of religion, epistemology, belief, doubt, faith and reason, Christian apologetics, rational belief, skepticism, analytic philosophy
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Check out my website: liz-jackson.com
For more on my research: liz-jackson.com/research
For popular-level interviews, podcasts, and blog posts I’ve done: liz-jackson.com/public-philosophy
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/lizjackson111
Instagram: instagram.com/lizjackson111
Facebook: facebook.com/lizjackson111
Is agnosticism actually true… or false?
Most people assume agnosticism is merely a kind of middle position between belief and disbelief, subject to the same kind of truth or falsity that belief and disbelief are. But in this video, we argue that this assumption is mistaken. Withholding belief—what we often call “agnosticism”—is not even the kind of thing that can be accurate or inaccurate at all.
That raises a deeper question:
👉 Are we thinking about belief, doubt, and truth in the wrong way?
Drawing from contemporary epistemology, Chris and I explain why withholding belief doesn’t function like belief or disbelief, and why that matters for how we evaluate what it means to be rational—especially in contexts like faith, skepticism, and religious commitment.
📄 Related paper
This video is based on my paper:
“Withholding is Not Assessable for Accuracy” (with Chris Tucker)
Chris and I presented this paper at the Inquiry Network work-in-progress group on March 10, 2026.
For more info about Chris's work: philpeople.org/profiles/chris-tucker
For more on the Inquiry Network: inquirynetwork.weebly.com
💬 Join the conversation
Do you think agnosticism is fundamentally different than belief and disbelief, in that is it not true or false?
What implications might this have for faith, skepticism, and the ever so popular (online) "lack-theism"?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
🔔 Subscribe for more
If you’re interested in philosophy of religion, epistemology, and thoughtful Christian engagement with big questions, consider subscribing.
🏷️ Tags: agnosticism, philosophy of religion, epistemology, belief, doubt, faith and reason, Christian apologetics, rational belief, skepticism, analytic philosophy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my website: liz-jackson.com
For more on my research: liz-jackson.com/research
For popular-level interviews, podcasts, and blog posts I’ve done: liz-jackson.com/public-philosophy
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/lizjackson111
Instagram: instagram.com/lizjackson111
Facebook: facebook.com/lizjackson111
