{"product_id":"9781474265836","title":"Evidentialism and the Will to Believe","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eEvidentialism and the Will to Believe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Scott Aikin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWork on the norms of belief in epistemology regularly starts with two touchstone essays: W.K. Clifford's \"The Ethics of Belief\" and William James's \"The Will to Believe.\" Discussing the central themes from these seminal essays, \u003ci\u003eEvidentialism and the Will to Believe\u003c\/i\u003e explores the history of the ideas governing evidentialism. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs well as Clifford's argument from the examples of the shipowner, the consequences of credulity and his defence against skepticism, this book tackles James's conditions for a genuine option and the structure of the will to believe case as a counter-example to Clifford's evidentialism.  Exploring the question of whether James's case successfully counters Clifford's evidentialist rule for belief, this study captures the debate between those who hold that one should proportion belief to evidence and those who hold that the evidentialist norm is too restrictive. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore than a sustained explication of the essays, it also surveys recent epistemological arguments to evidentialism. But it is by bringing Clifford and James into fruitful conversation for the first time that this study presents a clearer history of the issues and provides an important reconstruction of the notion of evidence in contemporary epistemology.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[Aikin] writes with clarity and verve, and his discussion is uniformly insightful. The book is filled with telling examples, useful distinctions, trenchant arguments, and good humor. I recommend it with enthusiasm.” —\u003ci\u003eNotre Dame Philosophical Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eEvidentialism and the Will To Believe\u003c\/i\u003e is refreshingly humorous and informal ... Aikin's blend of casual and technical language offers readers respite and entertainment; fellow analytical philosophers should take note ... An essential primer for those wishing to understand the Clifford-James debate” —\u003ci\u003eSOPHIA\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Aikin critically evaluates William James's famous influential essay \"The Will to Believe\" (1897) and W. K. Clifford's lesser-known \"The Ethics of Belief\" (1877), which the former critiqued.  This is the first complete book to analyze and contrast these two important theories of belief in epistemology … Aikin's clear writing style enables readers to better understand them.  This reviewer has taught these essays many times but still learned from this volume.  It will be very useful for courses in epistemology and related subjects. \u003cb\u003eSumming Up\u003c\/b\u003e: Highly recommended. Graduate students and researchers\/faculty.” —\u003ci\u003eCHOICE\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Aikin's book is a detailed, meticulous, and thought provoking comparative study of two seminal papers on the ethics of belief: William Clifford's 'The Ethics of Belief,' which enjoins us always to believe in accordance with the evidence, and William James' 'The Will to Believe,' which defends our right to believe in some carefully circumscribed circumstances, even when the evidence is insufficient …  It makes good sense to discuss the two papers together. After all, James was responding to Clifford. And the detailed discussion acquaints the reader with the two thinkers' stances toward a host of issues that together make for comprehensive views concerning evidentialism.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Review of Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The positions of both James and Clifford are presented in a thorough and sensitive manner.” – \u003ci\u003eGraduate Faculty Philosophy Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781474265836\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40626199134414,"sku":"9781474265836","price":46.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_f3925e26-a7d4-4a9e-9c50-6ed031dd30dd.jpg?v=1638670911","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781474265836","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}