An assumption is made that doxastic states are voluntary in at least a weak sense. Among epistemicists, W. K. Clifford holds the extreme view that we never have a right to believe a proposition without adequate evidence. Among moderate epistemicists, R. M. Chisholm holds that we have a right to believe a proposition unless its contradictory is evident.
Pragmatists also advocate more or less moderate views.
W. James defended both types of pragmatic ethics of belief on different occasions. P.H.H. See also Virtue, doxastic . The Oxford Companion to Philosophy 2. The Oxford Companion to Philosophy 3. All rights reserved.