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Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 8 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 1876
Category : Electronic
ISBN : BL:A0022054851
Author : William Kingdon Clifford
Publisher : Great Books in Philosophy
Page : 172 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : UVA:X004253021
"It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence." -- W. K. Clifford The above forthright assertion of mathematician and educator W. K. Clifford (1845-1879) in his famous essay "The Ethics of Belief" drew an immediate response from Victorian-era critics, who took issue with his reasoned and brilliantly presented attack on beliefs "not founded on fair inquiry." An advocate of evolutionary theory, Clifford recognized that working hypotheses and assumptions are necessary for belief formation and that testing and assessing one's beliefs in light of new evidence strengthens those worthy of being held. "The Ethics of Belief" is presented here in complete form, along with an insightful biographical introduction by editor Timothy J. Madigan. Also included are four other noteworthy essays by Clifford: "On the Aims and Instruments of Scientific Thought," "Right and Wrong," "The Ethics of Religion," and "The Influence upon Morality of a Decline in Religious Belief."
Author : Timothy Madigan
Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2008-12-18
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781443802635
W. K. Clifford (1845-1879) was a noted mathematician and popularizer of science in the Victorian era. Although he made major contributions in the field of geometry, he is perhaps best known for a short essay he wrote in 1876, entitled "The Ethics of Belief", in which he argued that "It is wrong always, everywhere, and for any one, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence." Delivered initially as an address to the august Metaphysical Society (whose members included such luminaries as Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Gladstone, T. H. Huxley, and assorted scientists, clerics and philosophers of differing metaphysical views, "The Ethics of Belief" became a rallying cry for freethinkers and a bone of contention for religious apologists. It continues to be discussed today as an exemplar of what is called 'evidentialism', a key point in current philosophy of religion debates over justification of knowledge claims. In this book, Timothy J. Madigan examines the continuing relevance of "The Ethics of Belief" to epistemological and ethical concerns. He places the essay within the historical context, especially the so-called 'Victorian Crisis of Faith' of which Clifford was a key player. Clifford's own life and interests are dealt with as well, along with the responses to his essay by his contemporaries, the most famous of which was William James's "The Will to Believe." Madigan provides an overview of modern-day critics of Cliffordian evidentialism, as well as examining thinkers who were positively influenced by him, including Bertrand Russell, who was perhaps Clifford's most influential successor as an advocate of intellectual honesty. The book ends with a defense of "The Ethics of Belief" from a virtue-theory approach, and argues that Clifford utilizes an "as-if" methodology to encourage intellectual inquiry and communal truth-seeking.' The Ethics of Belief' continues to provoke and stimulate controversy, which was perhaps Clifford's own fondest hope, although he had no right to believe it would do so.
Author : William Kingdon Clifford
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 8 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 1875
Category : Electronic
ISBN : BL:A0022054845
Author : A. J. Burger,William Kingdon Clifford,William James
Publisher : CreateSpace
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2008-08
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 1438251769
The classic discussion between William Kingdon Clifford (The Ethics of Belief) and William James (The Will to Believe), with added explanatory footnotes, and further commentary by A.J. Burger (An Examination of "The Will to Believe"). Never before have these essays appeared together in their complete and unabridged forms, with added footnotes, in an inexpensive edition. The recent essay by A.J. Burger, published for the first time, provides a thorough and unflinching examination of James' The Will to Believe. "People have long been interested in the circumstances under which it is appropriate to believe. Often, the source of this interest is the desire to believe something for which one has insufficient evidence. Extensive excerpts ... are often reprinted in anthologies. This is sufficient proof of the enduring interest in this subject, and of the importance of these particular essays." -from the Preface
Author : A. J. Burger
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2002-01
Category : Belief and doubt
ISBN : 1931333084
(The Ethics of Belief) and William James (The Will toBelieve), with added explanatory footnotes, and furthercommentary by A.J. Burger (An Examination of ?TheWill to Believe?).Never before have these essays appeared together in theircomplete and unabridged forms, with added footnotes, inan inexpensive edition. The recent essay by A.J. Burger, published for the first time, provides a thorough andunflinching examination of James? The Will to Believe.
Author : William Kingdon Clifford,William James
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 1896
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1789874459
William Kingdon Clifford's excellent treatise The Ethics of Belief is in this edition united with The Will to Believe; the spirited response by William James. This book brings together the two essays which comprise the famous philosophical exchange between the mathematician William Kingdon Clifford and William James, a psychologist and philosopher. Famous for articulating the arguments and morality surrounding belief, these two papers are united in a single compact edition for the consideration and study of the reader. The chief difference in opinion between Clifford and James, surrounds the matter of evidence. Clifford argued that belief in anything without supporting evidence is folly; individuals should hold an intellectual duty as well as a moral duty in what they believe. Wishful thinking, supposition, assumptions, or blind faith are therefore unacceptable and can act to damage one's intellect and ability to reason. William James, in opposition to Clifford's view, states that the formation of beliefs is justifiable. He uses the athlete as one example; self-belief in one's abilities or capacity for achievement can provision a psychological edge that results in such beliefs being realized. James then proceeds to outline a number of conditions which seek to justify the phenomena of religious belief as an intellectual and moral occurrence. That the issue of whether God exists is intellectually undecidable is central to James's thesis: a person can, without impinging on their intellect or morals, choose to believe or not to believe in a deity. Both Clifford and James draw upon the established epistemic norms of philosophy, these being the principles which seekers of knowledge and truth should hold when acquiring a belief. Their exchange served to refine the norms in scholarly circles, ushering in a renewed and sustained interest in belief morality. A total of almost two decades elapsed between Clifford and James papers, and Clifford himself died in 1879. However the succinctness of James' reply - which acts as an effective summary for the arguments within many of his lengthier works - brought both his paper and the paper of Clifford to prominence in academic circles.
Author : William Kingdon Clifford
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 28 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2015-12-14
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1522751696
"The Ethics of Belief" from William Kingdon Clifford. English mathematician and philosopher (1845-1879).
Author : William Kingdon Clifford
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 78 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 1884
Category : Ethics
ISBN : STANFORD:36105024627866
Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Belief and doubt
ISBN : OCLC:1310586608
Author : Gerald D. McCarthy
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 264 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 1986
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : UOM:39015011538702
A collection of essays, which outline the debates between James and Newman, Stephen and Sidgwick, et. al.
Author : Scott Aikin
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2015-11-19
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781474265836
An examination of the history and arguments behind W.K. Clifford and William James's landmark essays and subsequent impact on the importance of knowledge-based evidence.
Author : William Kingdon Clifford
Publisher : Palala Press
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2016-05-21
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1358350582
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Author : Gerald D. McCarthy
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 262 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 1986
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : UVA:X001059614
A collection of essays, which outline the debates between James and Newman, Stephen and Sidgwick, et. al.
Author : British Museum. Dept. of Printed Books
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 1040 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 1950
Category : Books
ISBN : UFL:31262098748717