Beyond Evidence Reading One William Thesis

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Clifford supports his thesis by telling two stories. In the first, he discusses a man who has doubts that his ships is sea worthy, but assumes that it will make the journey because it has done so many times in the past. After the men die at sea because of the poor construction of the ship, Clifford argues that the ship owner is to blame for their deaths. If the ship does not sink and no men die, however, Clifford's position is that the owner is no less guilty. Instead, a wrong has been committed in simply believing that the ship will be sound with no evidence. In the second story, Clifford suggests that some people of power sincerely believe that others are abusing their power in a horrendous way. Because of this, these people make many publications and accusations regarding those who are believed to be abusing their power. Whether these people are found guilty or innocent, though, is not the matter. Since the people who accused them did so before a formal investigation was had, and before evidence was had, they are wrong, whether they have done a public service or not. Thus, Clifford's thesis is that it is always wrong for anyone to believe without evidence. He supports this thesis by two easy to understand stories or parables.

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Reading Three

In his essay, "The Will to Believe," William James casts some judgment on William Clifford's epistemological view. James suggests that Clifford is motivated by his fear of error. James writes that Clifford instructs others to "keep your mind in suspense forever, rather than by closing it on insufficient evidence incur the awful risk of believing lies" (282). On the other hand, James, who says he finds it impossible to abide by Clifford's tenants, says that some find the possibility of erring less serious than others. Some, he claims, "are ready to be duped many times...rather than postpone indefinitely the chance of guessing true" (282). The fact that James accuses Clifford of being motivated by a desire to avoid evil coincides with Clifford's worldview. Clifford argues that believing something without evidence is a moral issue, an issue of right or wrong. Faced with the black and white morality of this, it is easy to see why Clifford would fear making a decision that is not based on evidence. James, on the other hand, does not discuss the issue in terms of morality. Instead, he does not see believing in an untruth as the monumental wrong that Clifford does. Thus, Clifford is motivated by a desire to avoid wrongdoing and James is motivated by having "the blessings….....

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