Does Clifford Offer a Convincing View of Religious Faith
Does Clifford offer a convincing view of religious faith?
In his article “The Ethics of Belief (Clifford, 1877) W.K. Clifford sought to argue that “it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence” (as cited on p190). The aim of this essay is to establish whether indeed this view offered by Clifford, when considering religious faith, is convincing. In order to do this I will consider the arguments that Clifford put forward, including that which to believe anything based upon insufficient evidence always does harm and so is wrong. Such a statement is in direct opposition to those religious believers who regard their blind faith as a virtue and for whom evidence is something that is unnecessary in order to believe. Along with discussing Clifford I will detail the responses given by James who disagreed with Clifford and in response attacked his views within his own paper “The Will to Believe”. James believed instead that it is more important to achieve truth than to avoid error. Both men, in my opinion, offer strong and persuasive arguments however I do not believe that either stands without criticism, therefore throughout I will offer my own views on the foundations of their arguments, which I hope will establish, that although many of Clifford’s points are valid in particular and specific circumstances they do not offer, as proposed, a convincing view of religious faith.
Clifford gives an example in support of his argument, this example is that of a ship-owner who was about to set his ship to sea on an emigrant voyage. The ship had sailed many times before and had often undergone repairs, due to the fact she was not overly well built in the first place. Suggestion of doubts regarding the safety of the ship had been made to him and he had thought that perhaps, even though it would be at great expense, he should have the ship overhauled before she set sail. However the ship-owner quashed these doubts and managed to
In his article “The Ethics of Belief (Clifford, 1877) W.K. Clifford sought to argue that “it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence” (as cited on p190). The aim of this essay is to establish whether indeed this view offered by Clifford, when considering religious faith, is convincing. In order to do this I will consider the arguments that Clifford put forward, including that which to believe anything based upon insufficient evidence always does harm and so is wrong. Such a statement is in direct opposition to those religious believers who regard their blind faith as a virtue and for whom evidence is something that is unnecessary in order to believe. Along with discussing Clifford I will detail the responses given by James who disagreed with Clifford and in response attacked his views within his own paper “The Will to Believe”. James believed instead that it is more important to achieve truth than to avoid error. Both men, in my opinion, offer strong and persuasive arguments however I do not believe that either stands without criticism, therefore throughout I will offer my own views on the foundations of their arguments, which I hope will establish, that although many of Clifford’s points are valid in particular and specific circumstances they do not offer, as proposed, a convincing view of religious faith.
Clifford gives an example in support of his argument, this example is that of a ship-owner who was about to set his ship to sea on an emigrant voyage. The ship had sailed many times before and had often undergone repairs, due to the fact she was not overly well built in the first place. Suggestion of doubts regarding the safety of the ship had been made to him and he had thought that perhaps, even though it would be at great expense, he should have the ship overhauled before she set sail. However the ship-owner quashed these doubts and managed to
References: Brown, S (2007) Faith and Reason p123 – 140, Destiny, Purpose and Faith, The Open University, Milton Keynes, 2007 Clifford, W, Reading 8 “The Ethics of Belief”. Brown, S. Destiny, Purpose and Faith, The Open University, Milton Keynes, 2007 James, W, Reading 9 “The Will to Believe”. Brown, S. Destiny, Purpose and Faith, The Open University, Milton Keynes, 2007