Clifford's Argument Analysis

Michael Newmyer
Linda Emmerson
Philosophy – Midterm
November 4, 2015 The main point of Clifford’s argument is that no one has the right to believe in any insufficient evidence. It is against our “duty” (147) to believe in such things that lack the proper evidence, according to Clifford. He states, “it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence” (147). Clifford does however, make one exception to this rule by saying that if one doesn’t have time to find full evidence for him or herself, that person is better off not believing at all. Clifford begins his argument with two examples of belief. The first story talks about how a ship-owner lets one of his ships sail when it is not in good shape. …show more content…
“I myself find it impossible to go with Clifford. We must remember that these feelings of our duty about either truth or error are in any case only expressions of our passional life” (153). He thinks that Clifford is so worried about being deceived that his argument is false. James thinks that it is better to have some faith than not believe at all. James highlights three criteria for genuine choice in his argument: the choices are live, forced, or momentous. A live choice has great emotional appeal. A forced choice has an either/or answer. A momentous choice is a matter of significant importance. …show more content…
He continues by saying that people believe in two different forms: concrete and abstract. In the concrete belief, it only covers living objects, which the intellect cannot resolve. In abstract belief, it covers our right to believe in any live hypothesis. (156). According to James, our faith is reasonable because what we believe in makes it reasonable in our hearts. If we believe in something that is not convincing or real to us then we believe in a dead hypothesis and not in what we believe to be valid in our own eyes.

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