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William Clifford The Ethics Of Belief Summary

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William Clifford The Ethics Of Belief Summary
William K. Clifford argues in “The Ethics of Belief” that to believe in anything without sufficient evidence is unethical. Firstly, beliefs guide our actions, and actions guided by unsupported beliefs can have fatal consequences. We have a duty to mankind to perform responsible actions, so our beliefs must be responsible. Secondly, believing without thorough consideration makes one unable to support not just his claims, but his fellow man as well. And lastly, it robs people of their humanity by taking away self-control, skepticism, and judgment, which leads to the stagnation of the search of knowledge and fulfillment (4). By lowering oneself, they lower society as a whole. Therefore, beliefs supported only by faith are a detriment to society.
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