Deck 17: Wk Clifford: The Ethics of Belief

Question 1

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-According to Clifford, what the shipowner did was wrong because

A) the ship was lost and people died.
B) he lacked sincerity.
C) he had no right to believe on insufficient evidence.
D) he had a right to believe what he did.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-According to Clifford, we have a duty to proportion our belief to the evidence

A) in most cases.
B) in all cases.
C) when lives are at stake.
D) if we have faith.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-According to Clifford, even if a belief that guides an action is true, the holder of that belief is still guilty of wrongdoing if

A) the belief is based on the wrong grounds.
B) the action itself is wrong.
C) no harm is done.
D) the believer is sincere.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-According to Clifford, those who have acquired a belief when they have no right to believe on such evidence as is before them have

A) done right.
B) been virtuous.
C) done wrong.
D) made a perceptual error.

Question 5

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford asserts that it is always wrong for anyone to believe anything on insufficient evidence.

Question 6

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford admits that there are exceptions to his ethics of belief.

Question 7

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-According to Clifford, no person's belief is a private matter that concerns him or her alone.

Question 8

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford contends that no simplicity of mind and no obscurity of station can excuse someone from the universal duty of questioning all that he or she believes.

Question 9

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford argues that every time we let ourselves believe for unworthy reasons, we weaken our powers of self-control and of judicially and fairly weighing evidence.

Question 10

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford believes that in some cases we can legitimately believe on faith alone.

Question 11

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford says that in religious matters we need not have our beliefs based on evidence.

Question 12

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford says that a lifetime of believing without good reason amounts to a sin against mankind.

Question 13

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford says that his insistence on believing according to evidence is backed up by scripture.

Question 14

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford insists that it is never lawful to stifle a doubt.

Question 15

In this essay Clifford argues against Pascalian wagers and against all pragmatic justification for religious belief. He contends that believing involves ethical principles, so we violate our moral duty if we obtain beliefs where the evidence is insufficient. Such acquisitions of beliefs are tantamount to theft. Clifford begins this essay by relating the story of a shipowner who sends a ship full of emigrants out to sea, knowing that the ship is old and not well built. The shipowner stifles doubts and launches it anyway, sincerely trusting Providence to care for it. When it sinks and all passengers are drowned, he collects his insurance money without a trace of guilt. Clifford argues that sincerity in no way excuses the shipowner because "he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him." The rest of the essay is a discussion of the ethics of acquiring beliefs on insufficient evidence.
-Clifford believes that no proposition can be shown to be conclusively true.