Cliffords Arguments Evidentialism Versus Will to Believe Essay

Cliffords Arguments Evidentialism Versus Will to Believe - Essay Example Clifford comes out with a model for intellectual honesty by following the arguments to their roots and refusing doubtful fictions. Clifford’s arguments are basically based on examples. In the first illustration, he involves a captain who believes the vessel is seaworthy. It is, however, a frequently repaired old ship. He represses his doubts, the ship had successfully embarked on voyages before and sets sail. The ship, carrying emigrants, sinks and all the people aboard drown. The shipowner is blameworthy but what if the ship had not gone down and the emigrants reached their destinations in safety? (Feldman, 24). Clifford holds the blame on the ship’s proprietor â€Å"because he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him†. The belief concerning the ship’s seaworthiness is the shortcoming. It is by reason that he got his belief not by earning it honestly through a cautious investigation but by suppressing his doubts. Given that the voyage would have been a success, the shipowner is at fault because of the inadequacy of evidence laid out. According to Clifford, the crime is in ignorance and creation of the risk and not necessarily in the aftermath in the turn of events. In lawful execution, negligence accompanied but no harmful turn of events is punished in less stern terms in comparison to negligence that resulted in more harm. Clifford helps to explain that in the moral perspective, both are at the same level (James, 39). As illustrated in another case, it’s heard that some powerful individuals, for instance, professors of the University, are propagating dangerous doctrines through deceitful ways. An association for agitation purposed and the members made public accusations concerning these university professors.  Ã‚