Overview
This lecture analyzes William Clifford's "ship owner's case" from his essay "The Ethics of Belief," highlighting Clifford's view that beliefs must be supported by sufficient evidence.
Clifford’s Ship Owner Case
- A ship owner doubts the seaworthiness of his old, poorly built immigrant ship, knowing it often requires repairs.
- Despite these doubts, the ship owner convinces himself the ship is safe based on past successful voyages and trust in providence (God).
- The ship sinks, killing all passengers, but the owner collects the insurance, facing no direct consequences.
- Clifford argues the ship owner is morally guilty for the deaths, regardless of his sincere belief.
Clifford’s Argument About Belief and Evidence
- Sincerity of belief does not excuse the lack of sufficient evidence.
- Forming beliefs without adequate evidence is always wrong, especially when those beliefs lead to harmful actions.
- The central claim: It is morally wrong to believe anything on insufficient evidence.
Significance of Belief Types
- Clifford sees no distinction between significant and trivial beliefs regarding the need for evidence.
- Even believing trivial things (e.g., "there were 1,193 hairs on my head") without evidence is wrong, as it weakens the habit of demanding evidence.
- Weakening this habit harms both the individual and society, risking a return to superstition.
Implications for Theism and Agnosticism
- Clifford's view applies equally to theism and atheism: both require adequate evidence.
- If no sufficient evidence exists for or against God’s existence, one should suspend judgment (agnosticism).
Criticisms of Clifford’s Position
- Clifford fails to clearly define "adequate" or "sufficient" evidence.
- Adequacy of evidence may be subjective, varying from person to person.
- This lack of definition weakens Clifford’s claim that it is always wrong to believe without sufficient evidence.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Sufficient Evidence — Enough proof to reasonably justify a belief, according to Clifford (though not clearly defined by him).
- Agnosticism — Suspending judgment when there is insufficient evidence to decide an issue, especially about God's existence.
- Significant Belief — A belief likely to lead to actions that can affect others.
- Trivial Belief — A belief with no meaningful consequences or importance.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review "The Ethics of Belief" by William Clifford (page 95 and following in the Roe text).
- Reflect on what counts as "adequate evidence" for your own beliefs.