The Will to Believe, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy

About the book

The title essay asks whether a person's passional nature may legitimately influence belief when an option is live, unavoidable, and significant, yet cannot be settled by intellectual evidence alone. James distinguishes that restricted situation from a general permission to believe whatever one wishes. The surrounding essays explore the value of life, rationality, freedom, moral obligation, individual influence, and the interpretation of unusual experience. Their origin in public addresses gives difficult arguments a conversational energy without removing the need to follow their qualifications. Across the volume, philosophy remains connected to what a person risks by acting or withholding action. James repeatedly challenges accounts that seem logically complete but leave the variety of experience, the force of commitment, or the importance of an individual decision inadequately explained.

• Belief and evidence
• Freedom and commitment
• Individual experience

Why read it

For a carefully qualified argument about belief and a wider set of essays that keep philosophical questions close to practical decisions.

Philosophical essay collection · English text