more from William James

Single Idea 18991

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 1. Proof of God]

Full Idea

On pragmatistic principles, if the hypothesis of God works satisfactorily in the widest sense of the word, it is true.

Gist of Idea

If the God hypothesis works well, then it is true

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 8)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.115


A Reaction

The truth of God's existence certainly is a challenging test case for the pragmatic theory of truth, and James really bites the bullet here. Pragmatism may ultimately founder on the impossibility of specifying what 'works satisfactorily' means.