William James

Pragmatic Voluntarism:   ÒThe Will to BelieveÓ

 

I. Basic Terminology of Pragmatic Voluntarism:

 

A. Hypothesis Ð any proposition proposed as a possible belief Ð

 

1. Live Hypothesis Ð a belief that appeals to the hearer

 

2. Dead Hypothesis Ð a belief that does not appeal to the hearer

 

B. Option Ð the choice between hypotheses Ð

 

1. Living/Dead

 

2. Forced/Avoidable

 

3. Momentous/Trivial

 

4. Genuine Ð a living, forced, and momentous option

 

II. Decision Theory Ð

 

A. How we make decisions:

 

1. Rational Ð many decisions can be made based on rational grounds appealing to É

 

a. Empirical evidence

 

b. Analytical evidence

 

2. Passional Ð We can Will to believe in cases where

 

a. a hypothesis is rationally indeterminable, and

 

b. we are presented with a genuine option

 

 

B. Options for Passional Decision Making:

 

1.Dead Option:

 

 

2. Live Option: