The Will to Believe, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy
The will to believe -- Is life worth living? -- The sentiment of rationality -- Reflex action and theism -- The dilemma of determinism -- The moral philosopher and the moral life -- Great men and their environment -- The importance of individuals -- On some Hegelisms -- What psychical research has accomplished.
Produced by Al Haines. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.)
"The Will to Believe, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy" by William James is a collection of philosophical essays written in the late 19th century. The book advocates for the legitimacy of religious faith and explores themes of belief, empiricism, and the nature of knowledge. The essays aim to present philosophical concepts in an accessible manner, arguing that faith can have practical validity even when not backed by objective evidence. The opening of the collection sets the stage for James's exploration of belief with a discourse titled "The Will to Believe." He addresses the importance of personal faith, arguing that belief often arises from factors beyond sheer intellect and logical reasoning. He introduces the idea that choices regarding beliefs exist along a spectrum of options that can be categorized as living or dead, forced or avoidable, and momentous or trivial. James suggests that, particularly with religious beliefs, one's passions and desires may help shape decisions when rational evidence isn't available, presenting a compelling case for allowing faith to coexist with rational inquiry. He stresses that, rather than evading these essential choices, individuals must confront them to lead meaningful lives. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 54.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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