The Nature Of Evidence

8 Pages 2035 Words

an to believe that the ship was of sound body. Clifford asserted that, “the sincerity of his conviction can in no wise help him, because he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him. He had acquired his belief not by honestly earning it in patient investigation, but by stifling his doubts” (115). The ship owner sincerely believed that the ship was able to travel, but this did not prevent the emergence of uncertainty. Clifford said that had his belief been one grounded on the careful analysis of evidence, there would have been no doubts.
Clifford stated that people should only believe in what they can defend through careful analysis of evidence and inquiry. Without this evidence to back up a conviction, Clifford assessed that man would ultimately destroy the true definition of a belief! Clifford stated, “The question of right or wrong has to do with the origin of his belief, not the matter of it; not what it was, but how he got it; not whether it turned out to be true or false, but whether he had a right to believe on such evidence as was before him” (116).
Clifford also wrote about the immense importance of beliefs (and therefore evidence) on others. One can see how the belief of the ship owner had an effect on others, but Clifford’s argument goes further. Clifford, paraphrased, says no matter how small or meaningless the belief or the believer is, they are significant to the fate of mankind.
Clifford’s argument’s strength comes ...