William K. Clifford's Essay 'The Ethics Of Belief'

William K. Clifford, in his essay “The Ethics Of Belief” (1877), asserts that beliefs must be held sacred; they must be extensively investigated with an open mind before a belief is formed. Clifford supports this assertion by telling two parallel stories about men who held beliefs without full investigation, concluding that beliefs not held to a high ethical standard are detrimental to society. His purpose is to instill in his readers a habit of questioning their beliefs to the full extent possible in order to preserve the sanctity of beliefs throughout society. He establishes himself as a mentor to his audience of scholars who are interested in upholding the ideals of society.
“The Ethics Of Belief” executes its purpose with great success