What does "nescience" mean?

The absence of knowledge, especially of orthodox beliefs.

Nescience

Common synonyms include: agnosticism, blankmindedness, callowness, deliberate ignorance, empty-headedness, greenhornism.

/ˈnɛʃəns/ noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Noun

1
The absence of knowledge, especially of orthodox beliefs. countable, uncountable
"Better to have honest nescience than to have militant ignorance."
2
ignorance (especially of orthodox beliefs) wordnet
3
The doctrine that nothing is actually knowable. countable, uncountable
"The theory of nescience is but the obverse of the fact of science."

"Better to have honest nescience than to have militant ignorance."

From Latin nescientia, from the present participle of nescire.