Part I of Clifford’s “The Ethics of Belief” by W. T. Clifford expresses several of Clifford’s viewpoints in regards to belief (Clifford, 2008). Within his essay, Clifford attempts to convince his readers that when forming our beliefs in a certain way is of real ethical importance (Clifford, 2008). Moreover, Clifford expresses his belief that what we believe is not merely a private matter, but rather, a moral issue (Clifford, 2008). Furthermore, that it is a moral failure to form beliefs based on insufficient evidence (Clifford, 2008).
Overall, Clifford expresses that we must utilize passionate nature in order to decide on an option between propositions while maintaining an intellectual ground (Clifford, 2008). In order to do so, one must be obliged to gather evidence, remain open-minded to new evidence, and consider the evidence offered by others (Clifford, 2008). In addition, because our lives are guided by a general conception of the course of things, created by general society for social purposes, every succeeding generation inherits our words, phrases, and even our common property (Clifford, 2008). Therefore, as the succeeding generations inherit these heirlooms (for not better words), they become enlarged and purified as generations progress (Clifford, 2008).
Because …show more content…
This approach includes the point that a person comes to know that every time I do something it results in something. An example of life experience is looking at the window and seeing snow on the ground. Mentally, a person would think that snow on the ground is associated with cold weather therefore, the person would likely dress appropriately. Life experience allows the person not to have to walk outside in order to maintain the perception that it is likely cold. Together, uniformity in nature and life experience allows a person to form his or her own beliefs, which Clifford’s criteria for belief (Francis,
Overall, Clifford expresses that we must utilize passionate nature in order to decide on an option between propositions while maintaining an intellectual ground (Clifford, 2008). In order to do so, one must be obliged to gather evidence, remain open-minded to new evidence, and consider the evidence offered by others (Clifford, 2008). In addition, because our lives are guided by a general conception of the course of things, created by general society for social purposes, every succeeding generation inherits our words, phrases, and even our common property (Clifford, 2008). Therefore, as the succeeding generations inherit these heirlooms (for not better words), they become enlarged and purified as generations progress (Clifford, 2008).
Because …show more content…
This approach includes the point that a person comes to know that every time I do something it results in something. An example of life experience is looking at the window and seeing snow on the ground. Mentally, a person would think that snow on the ground is associated with cold weather therefore, the person would likely dress appropriately. Life experience allows the person not to have to walk outside in order to maintain the perception that it is likely cold. Together, uniformity in nature and life experience allows a person to form his or her own beliefs, which Clifford’s criteria for belief (Francis,