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無神論

出自維基百科,自由嘅百科全書
(由無神論者跳轉過嚟)

無神論(Atheism)係擺明姿勢,一係肯定無(deity)[1],一係否定神學(theism)[2]。 闊啲講[3],係無神嘅信仰(belief)係,非神論nontheism[4]

好多自認(self-identity)無神論者,對超自然嘅嘢,都抱懷疑態度(skepticism),同講無體驗(empiricism)證據證明神嘅存在。其他都以哲學、社會或者史學做無神論嘅論據。好多自認無神論者,都傾向通俗(secularism)哲學,例如人文主義(humanism)[5]自然主義(naturalism)[6]。無神論並無一套意識形態,無神論者一套一定行為[7]。有啲宗敎,好似耆那敎佛敎咁,唔使信人格神(personal god)。

無神論個西文atheism原本係指任何同發展成熟嘅宗敎有衝突,人又好,信念又好,係種蔑稱。[8][9]。之不過,自由思想(freethought), 科學懷疑(scientific skepticism)同埋宗敎批判(criticism of religion)散發,atheism個意思越來越專門,最後變成無神論者嘅自稱。

定義

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唔同嘅作者對於點樣最好去定義同歸類「無神論」有唔同嘅睇法,[10] 佢哋爭論邊啲超自然嘅實體可以算係神,無神論係唔係一種哲學立場定係只係缺乏一種立場,又或者無神論需唔需要有意識同明確嘅拒絕;不過,一般嚟講都係以明確反對有神論嘅立場嚟定義無神論。[11][12][13] 無神論一直都被認為係可以同不可知論並存嘅,[14][15][16][17] 但有時候又會同佢對比。[18][19][20]

隱性同顯性

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呢個圖表顯示咗弱/強隱性/顯性無神論定義之間嘅關係(圖中嘅大細唔係想表示人口比例)。
顯性強/正面無神論者(圖右邊嘅紫色)斷言「至少有一個神存在」呢個講法係錯嘅。
顯性弱/負面無神論者(圖右邊嘅藍色)拒絕或者迴避相信有任何神存在,但唔會斷言「至少有一個神存在」呢個講法係錯嘅。
隱性弱/負面無神論者(圖左邊嘅藍色)包括啲唔相信有神但又冇明確拒絕相信有神嘅人(好似細路仔同某啲不可知論者)。

定義「無神論」時出現嘅啲含糊之處,有啲係因為「神」同「神明」呢啲字嘅定義問題。由於對神同神明嘅理解五花八門,好唔同,所以對無神論適用範圍嘅理解都有唔同。古羅馬人就話啲基督徒係無神論者,因為佢哋唔拜異教嘅神。慢慢噉,隨住「有神論」呢個詞開始包括咗相信任何神性嘅信仰,呢種講法就變得唔受歡迎。[21] 就無神論所否定嘅現象範圍嚟講,無神論可以係反對任何神嘅存在,乃至反對任何靈性超自然或者超越性概念嘅存在。[22]

無神論嘅定義喺一個人要諗幾多關於神嘅嘢先至算係無神論者呢一點上面都有唔同。有啲定義話無神論就係冇相信任何神存在。呢個好闊嘅定義會包括啲初生嬰同其他冇接觸過有神論思想嘅人。早喺1772年,霍爾巴赫男爵就講過:「所有細路出世嗰陣都係無神論者;佢哋根本冇神嘅概念。」[23] 同樣噉,喬治·H·史密斯都提出過:「一個唔識乜嘢係有神論嘅人都係無神論者,因為佢唔相信有神。呢個類別仲包括啲有能力理解呢啲問題嘅細路,但係仲未知道呢啲問題嘅存在。呢個細路唔相信有神呢一點就已經令佢成為一個無神論者。」[24]

「隱性無神論」係「冇有神論信仰但又冇刻意拒絕佢」,而「顯性無神論」就係有意識噉拒絕相信。通常我哋會用一個明確反對有神論嘅立場嚟定義無神論。[25][12][26] 為咗佢嗰篇關於「哲學無神論」嘅文章,Ernest Nagel反對將單純缺乏有神論信仰都算做一種無神論。[27] Graham Oppy將啲從來冇諗過呢個問題嘅人歸類為「天真者」,因為佢哋根本唔明乜嘢係神,例如一個月大嘅BB。[28]

正面同負面

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好似Antony Flew[29]Michael Martin[21]咁嘅哲學家將正面(強/硬)無神論同負面(弱/軟)無神論做咗對比。正面無神論係明確咁肯定冇神存在。負面無神論包括所有其他形式嘅非有神論。根據呢個分類,任何唔係有神論者嘅人都係負面或者正面無神論者。舉個例,Michael Martin就話不可知論邏輯結果係負面無神論。[16][14] 不可知無神論就包括埋無神論同不可知論。[17] 不過,好多不可知論者都認為佢哋嘅觀點同無神論係有分別嘅。[30][31]

Richard Dawkins

根據無神論者嘅論點,未經證實嘅宗教主張應該同其他所有未經證實嘅主張一樣,都值得同樣程度嘅唔相信。[32] 無神論者批評不可知論,話神存在嘅命題唔可以被證明並唔表示兩種可能性係機會均等嘅。[33] 澳洲哲學家J.J.C. Smart話「有時一個真係無神論者嘅人可能會好激動噉形容自己係不可知論者,因為佢有一種唔合理嘅普遍哲學懷疑主義,呢種懷疑主義會阻止我哋話我哋知道任何嘢,可能除咗數學同形式邏輯嘅真理之外。」[34] 因此,有啲無神論作者,例如Richard Dawkins,就鍾意將有神論者、不可知論者同無神論者嘅立場沿住一條有神論機率光譜嚟區分——即係佢哋對「神存在」呢個陳述嘅認同程度。[35]

十八世紀之前,西方世界對神嘅存在嘅接受程度高到連真正嘅無神論存在嘅可能性都受到質疑。呢種叫做有神論嘅「先天論」——即係認為所有人一出世就相信神;喺呢種觀點入便,無神論者就係喺否認事實。[36] 有啲無神論者對「無神論」呢個詞嘅需要提出過質疑。喺佢本書《致一個基督教國家嘅信》入便,Sam Harris寫道:

事實上,「無神論」呢個詞根本就唔應該存在。冇人需要將自己稱為「非占星術者」或者「非煉金術者」。我哋冇詞嚟形容啲懷疑貓王仲在生或者外星人橫跨銀河系就只係為咗騷擾牧場主同佢哋啲牛嘅人。無神論只不過係理性嘅人喺面對冇理據嘅宗教信仰時發出嘅聲音。[37]

睇埋

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  1. Pojman, Louis P (1999). Robert Audi (編). The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy (第(2nd edition)版). the view that there are no gods. A widely used sense denotes merely not believing in God and is consistent with agnosticism. A stricter sense denotes a belief that there is no God...
  2. Nielsen, Kai. "Atheism". Encyclopædia Britannica. 喺2007-04-28搵到. "Atheism, in general, the critique and denial of metaphysical beliefs in God or spiritual beings... a more adequate characterization of atheism consists in the more complex claim that to be an atheist is to be someone who rejects belief in God for [reasons that depend] on how God is being conceived."
  3. religioustolerance.org's short article on Definitions of the term "Atheism" 互聯網檔案館歸檔,歸檔日期2020年1月2號,. suggests that there is no consensus on the definition of the term. Most dictionaries (see the OneLook 互聯網檔案館歸檔,歸檔日期2019年10月2號,. query for "atheism") first list one of the more narrow definitions.
    • Eller, David (2004). Natural Atheism. pp. p 12. All humans are born Atheists. No baby born into the world arrives with specific religious beliefs or knowledge. Such beliefs and knowledge must be acquired, which means that they must first exist before and apart from the new life and that they must be presented to and impressed on the new suggestible mind—one that has no critical apparatus and no alternative views of its own. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
    • Angeles, Peter A. (1981). Dictionary of Philosophy. USA: Barnes & Noble. 1. the belief that gods do not, or God does not, exist; 2. The disbelief in any kind of supernatural existence that is supposed to affect the universe; 3. the lack of belief in a particular God {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |isbn13= ignored (help)
    • Runes, Dagobert D.(editor) (1942 edition). Dictionary of Philosophy. New Jersey: Littlefield, Adams & Co. Philosophical Library. ISBN 0064634612. (a) the belief that there is no God; (b) Some philosophers have been called "atheistic" because they have not held to a belief in a personal God. Atheism in this sense means "not theistic". The former meaning of the term is a literal rendering. The latter meaning is a less rigorous use of the term though widely current in the history of thought {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |year= (help) - entry by Vergilius Ferm
  4. Honderich, Ted (Ed.) (1995). "Humanism". The Oxford Companion to Philosophy. Oxford University Press. p 376. ISBN 0-19-866132-0.
  5. Fales, Evan. "Naturalism and Physicalism", in Martin 2007, pp. 122–131.
  6. Baggini 2003, pp. 3–4.
  7. Drachmann, A. B. (1977 ("an unchanged reprint of the 1922 edition")). Atheism in Pagan Antiquity. Chicago: Ares Publishers. ISBN 0-89005-201-8. Atheism and atheist are words formed from Greek roots and with Greek derivative endings. Nevertheless they are not Greek; their formation is not consonant with Greek usage. In Greek they said atheos and atheotēs; to these the English words ungodly and ungodliness correspond rather closely. In exactly the same way as ungodly, atheos was used as an expression of severe censure and moral condemnation; this use is an old one, and the oldest that can be traced. Not till later do we find it employed to denote a certain philosophical creed. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  8. Stanley, Thomas (1687). The history of philosophy 1655–61. quoted in Oxford English Dictionary. An Atheist is taken two ways, for him who is an enemy to the Gods, and for him who believeth there are no Gods. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. Chisholm, Hugh編 (1911)。"Atheism" . 英百科全書 (英文) (第11版)。劍橋大學出版社。「呢個詞語一般嚟講意思係相當含糊嘅。佢嘅意思會因應(a)對神嘅唔同定義而改變,尤其係(b)視乎佢係(i.)一個思想家有意識咁採用嚟描述自己嘅神學立場,定係(ii.)一班思想家用嚟形容佢哋嘅對手。至於(a)呢一點,顯然基督教徒眼中嘅無神論同一個自然神論者、實證主義者、尤赫美洛斯或赫伯特·斯賓塞嘅追隨者,或者一個佛教徒眼中嘅無神論係截然不同嘅概念。」
  10. Paul Draper神論同不可知論史丹福哲學百科全書。原先內容歸檔喺October 25, 2021。喺October 24, 2021搵到。「有啲哲學家同好多非哲學家更加激進噉偏離哲學界嘅常規,話『無神論』根本唔應該定義做一種命題,就算有神論係一種命題。相反,『無神論』應該定義做一種心理狀態:即係唔相信有神存在嘅狀態。」
  11. 12.0 12.1 McCormick, Matt。神論互聯網哲學百科全書。原先內容歸檔喺February 21, 2010。喺October 24, 2021搵到。「而家已經廣泛接受,做一個無神論者就係肯定神係唔存在嘅」
  12. Michael Anthony。據喺邊度?Philosophy Now。原先內容歸檔喺September 26, 2019。喺October 24, 2021搵到。「雖然『無神論』呢個詞有時候都會用嚟形容類似呢種意思(例如Antony Flew嘅文章《無神論嘅假設》),但呢種用法係非常非主流嘅。」
  13. 14.0 14.1 引用錯誤 無效嘅<ref>標籤;無文字提供畀叫做agnosticism-compatible嘅參照
  14. Holland, Aaron (April 1882)。可知論。The Journal of Speculative Philosophy,Flynn 2007, p. 34: "要注意嘅係,呢種對不可知論嘅詮釋係可以同有神論或者無神論並存嘅,因為佢只係講緊神嘅存在係無法知道嘅。"
  15. 16.0 16.1 引用錯誤 無效嘅<ref>標籤;無文字提供畀叫做martin-agnosticism-entails嘅參照
  16. 17.0 17.1 引用錯誤 無效嘅<ref>標籤;無文字提供畀叫做barker-agnostic-atheism嘅參照
  17. Nielsen 2013: "無神論,一般嚟講,係批評同否定對神或者靈性存在嘅形而上學信念。噉樣嚟講,佢通常同肯定神嘅實在並經常想證明神嘅存在嘅有神論係有分別嘅。無神論同時都同不可知論有分別,不可知論係對有冇神呢個問題持開放態度,認為呢個問題係無答案或者無法解答嘅。"
  18. 神論. 英百科全書簡明版。Merriam Webster。原先內容歸檔喺January 21, 2012。喺December 15, 2011搵到。「批評同否定對神或者神聖存在嘅形而上學信念。同留低有冇神呢個問題嘅不可知論唔同,無神論係一種正面嘅否定。佢植根於好多種哲學系統。」
  19. Chisholm, Hugh編 (1911)。神論 . 英百科全書 (英文) (第11版)。劍橋大學出版社。「但係同懷疑主義嘅類型相比,教條式嘅無神論就少見得多。懷疑主義嘅無神論同不可知論喺否定人嘅思維有能力形成任何關於神嘅概念呢一點上係一致嘅,但唔同嘅係不可知論者只係暫時擱置判斷,雖然喺實踐中,不可知論好容易就會變成一種同被動同唔具侵略性嘅無神論冇乜分別嘅宗教態度。」
  20. 21.0 21.1 Martin 2006.
  21. 引用錯誤 無效嘅<ref>標籤;無文字提供畀叫做eb2011-Rejection-of-all-religious-beliefs嘅參照
  22. d'Holbach, P.H.T. (1772)。。原先內容歸檔喺June 23, 2011。喺April 7, 2011搵到
  23. Smith 1979, p. 14。
  24. Paul Draper神論同不可知論史丹福哲學百科全書。原先內容歸檔喺October 25, 2021。喺October 24, 2021搵到。「有啲哲學家同好多非哲學家更加激進噉偏離哲學界嘅常規,話『無神論』根本唔應該定義做一種命題,就算有神論係一種命題。相反,『無神論』應該定義做一種心理狀態:即係唔相信有神存在嘅狀態。」
  25. Michael Anthony。據喺邊度?Philosophy Now。原先內容歸檔喺September 26, 2019。喺October 24, 2021搵到。「雖然『無神論』呢個詞有時候都會用嚟形容類似呢種意思(例如Antony Flew嘅文章《無神論嘅假設》),但呢種用法係非常非主流嘅。」
  26. Nagel, Ernest (1959)。神論嘅哲學概念. 本信仰:人類嘅宗教哲學。Sheridan House。「我要先講清楚我將『無神論』呢個詞用嚟形容乜嘢意思,同埋我點樣理解呢篇文章嘅主題。我將會將『無神論』理解為對所有種類嘅有神論嘅主要主張嘅批評同否定。...無神論唔等於單純嘅不信,或者唔相信某個宗教團體嘅某種信條。所以,一個冇接受過任何宗教教育同從來冇聽過上帝嘅細路唔係無神論者——因為佢冇否定任何有神論嘅主張。同樣噉,一個冇深思熟慮就放棄咗佢阿爸信仰嘅成年人,或者一個對任何神學問題都完全冇興趣嘅人,都唔係無神論者——因為呢啲成年人冇挑戰有神論,亦冇就呢個話題發表任何意見。...我打算研究一啲無神論嘅『哲學』概念。」
    喺Peter A. Angeles編輯嘅《對上帝嘅批評》(Prometheus Books,1997年)中重印。
  27. Oppy 2018, p. 4: 不可知論者同天真者嘅分別係,佢哋都係既唔相信有神,又唔相信冇神,但不可知論者係考慮過有冇神呢個問題。天真者係從來冇考慮過有冇神呢個問題嘅人。通常,天真者之所以從來冇考慮過有冇神呢個問題,係因為佢哋無能力考慮呢個問題。點解會噉呢?好簡單,要考慮有冇神呢個問題,你首先要明白「神」呢個概念係乜嘢意思。即係話,你要有「神」呢個概念先得。啲冇「神」呢個概念嘅人就冇可能諗到有冇神呢個問題。舉個例,好似一個月大嘅BB。好大可能一個月大嘅BB係冇「神」呢個概念。所以好大可能一個月大嘅BB就係天真者。其他可能係天真者嘅例子包括黑猩猩、受過嚴重腦創傷嘅人類,同埋患有晚期癡呆症嘅人類。
  28. Flew 1976, pp. 14ff: "喺呢個詮釋入便,無神論者唔再係一個正面斷言冇神存在嘅人;而係一個唔係有神論者嘅人。等我哋以後方便講,將前者叫做「正面無神論者」,後者就叫做「負面無神論者」。"
  29. 解我唔係無神論者:不可知論嘅理據Huffington Post。May 28, 2013。原先內容歸檔喺December 9, 2013。喺November 26, 2013搵到
  30. Kenny, Anthony (2006)。解我唔係無神論者. 信嘅嘢。Continuum。ISBN 978-0-8264-8971-5。「真正嘅默認立場唔係有神論又唔係無神論,而係不可知論...一種知識嘅主張需要有證據支持;無知只需要承認就得。」
  31. Baggini 2003, pp. 30–34。 "邊個認真噉講我哋應該話'我既唔相信又唔係唔相信教皇係個機械人',或者'至於食呢塊朱古力會唔會將我變成大笨象,我係完全唔知嘅'呢?喺冇任何好理由去相信呢啲離譜嘅講法嘅情況下,我哋正確嘅做法係唔相信佢哋,而唔係單單暫停判斷。"
  32. Baggini 2003, p. 22。 "缺乏證據唔係暫停信念嘅理據。因為當我哋冇絕對證據嘅時候,我哋仲可以有壓倒性嘅證據或者一個遠優於其他嘅解釋。"
  33. Smart, J.C.C. (March 9, 2004)。神論同不可知論。史丹福哲學百科全書。原先內容歸檔喺February 5, 2012。喺April 9, 2011搵到
  34. Dawkins 2006, p. 50.
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