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Subjective Nature of Belief William James' "The Will To Believe" and W. K. C

William James' "The Will To Believe" and W. K. Clifford's "The Ethics of Belief" both demonstrate the subjective nature of belief, whether that belief is justified or not. If we assume that there is insufficient evidence to justify a belief in God, and if we also assume that human beings are rational, we must then account for the preponderance of believers versus nonbelievers in the world.

From an atheist's point of view, it appears that those who are most likely to appeal to scripture as justification for their moral beliefs are really just rationalizing positions they already have. James would maintain the right of a person to hold such a subjective reality because the decision to believe is based on personal need rather than logic. A true Godbeliever will selectively perceive reality in such a manner as to see evidence of God's will at every turn. A true nonbeliever, or atheist, would perceive reality in such a way as to note those events that indicate the absence of God. Clifford would not condone this selectivity of perception. To him, "a patient inquiry after the facts is morally necessary." It is revealing to note that Clifford used the term "morally." Objective truthseeking may become its own religion, tinged as it is with morality.

Several arguments for and against the existence of God are well known; assume for a moment that these are irrelevant. James tells us that belief in some propositions is a requirement of their future possible verification. According to James, religious beliefs may often involve one in assenting to statements for which conclusive evidence is absent. As an example, consider that one may help to make another person' s attitude friendly towards oneself by adopting a friendly attitude toward the statement: "X" is friendly towards me." "I will behave in a friendly manner toward 'X' because I know that 'X' likes me."

The above can be viewed as an example of the selffulfilling proph...

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Subjective Nature of Belief William James' "The Will To Believe" and W. K. C. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 08:49, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1699994.html