Belief According to James

874 Words2 Pages

BELIEF ACCORDING TO JAMES
According to James, belief is measured by actions of people within the society. Hypothesis and options are used in the description of beliefs. Hypothesis can be named to anything that proposes beliefs. It can be further classified as dead or alive. A live hypothesis is something real and viewed as true for anyone who proposes it. For example, in his submission, belief in Mahdi makes no electric connection with nature of any individual. This according to James is a dead hypothesis because beliefs are imaginary and does not produce light like electricity does. On the other hand, the hypothesis is alive according to followers of Mahdi. This is because the hypothesis among the believers is in their minds. Therefore, wherever there is willingness to act, beliefs are dominant.
Another aspect related to belief is option. Option can therefore be defined as the decision between two hypotheses. Options can further be divided into several types. Living or dead options, forced or avoidable, trivial or momentous are some of the classifications of options. A genuine option is one that posses momentous, living and forced kinds of options. A living option is one in which both hypotheses are alive. For example, “to be a theosophist or be a Mohammedan” can be classified as a dead option because both hypotheses are likely to be dead. On the other hand, “Be an agnostic or be a Christian” can be classified as live hypotheses because such hypotheses make appeals.
Moreover, several aspects are important when analyzing the genuine option according to James. For example, “choose between going out with your umbrella or without it”, this does not offer a genuine option because it is not forced. A person can easily avoid using ...

... middle of paper ...

...earth according to this doctrine. Moreover, people believe they can be in better positions when they continue think and roll up their experiences. The strength of this method lies in principles and outcomes. According to the empiricist method of opinion setting, hypothesis does not matter (Earlymoderntexts 1). It does not matter if an individual gets to know the truth through fair means or foul play according to this method.
Since belief is measured through actions of individuals, anybody who forbids people to believe religion is true also forbids people to act as they should do. Action is the main defense of religious faith. If action required by religious hypothesis is not different from other hypothesis, the faith is pure in the minds of individuals. Hypothesis, truth and belief give the world expressions determined by individual actions that make them pure.

Open Document