Single Idea 4763

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs]

Full Idea

The 'evidentialists' (such as Locke and Hume) deny, and the 'voluntarists' (such as William James) affirm, that we ought to, or at least may, believe for other reasons than evidential epistemic reasons (e.g. for pragmatic reasons).

Gist of Idea

'Evidentialists' say, and 'voluntarists' deny, that we only believe on the basis of evidence

Source

Pascal Engel (Truth [2002], §5.2)

Book Reference

Engel,Pascal: 'Truth' [Acumen 2002], p.133


A Reaction

No need to be black-or-white here. Blatant evidence compels belief, but we may also come to believe by spotting a coherence, without additional evidence. We can also be in a state of trying to believe something. But see 4764.