The Nature Of Evidence

8 Pages 2035 Words

Evidence is like ‘buttah,’ or something like that. Actually, evidence is the devil. Some sort of evidence controls almost everything we do, as does the devil, or at least that is who I blame. This paper, for example, is evidence for you that I can comprehend and understand the assigned readings. Every decision I make or belief I have is supposed to have evidence, or is it? This question, including the nature of evidence, is one that both W.K. Clifford and William James try to answer.
For Clifford “it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone to believe anything upon insufficient evidence” (118). But for James it is a little different. James believes that there are some questions that cannot wait for sufficient evidence and that in those cases it is not only right to decide using faith, but that one must decide by using faith. I know the previous statements are very short representations of James’ and Clifford’s ideas on the nature of evidence, but as the paper progresses the finer points will be brought out as well as an understanding of the similarities and differences in their ideas.
W.K. Clifford, The Ethics of Belief
Clifford’s main idea was that “it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone to believe anything upon insufficient evidence” (118). This idea is by no means all that can be gathered from his essay. Clifford made some very valid points about evidence in its relation to belief and its immense importance to humankind.
Clifford described how dangerous it could be for humans to base a belief on anything but evidence. He also gave some very compelling examples of how insufficient evidence and stifling doubts leads to wrong beliefs, and how those beliefs affected others. Clifford used the example of a ship owner who knowingly allowed passengers to travel on a ship in need of repair, and then the ship went down killing all the passengers. The owner suppressed his doubts until he truly beg...