William James on the courage to believe
By: Robert J. O'Connell.
Edition: 2nd ed.
Series: American philosophy series ;; no. 8
Publisher: Fordham University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 223
Subjects: James, William, 1842-1910.; Philosophy.; Belief and doubt.
Description: William James's celebrated lecture on "The Will to Believe" has kindled spirited controversy since the day it was delivered.

In this lively reappraisal of that controversy, Father O'Connell contributes some fresh contentions: that James's argument should be viewed against his indebtedness to Pascal and Renouvier; that it works primarily to validate our "over-beliefs"; and most surprising perhaps, that James envisages our "passional nature" as intervening, not after, but before and throughout, our intellectual weighting of the evidence for belief.

For this second edition, Father O'Connell has added extensively to sharpen his arguments: that James's "deontological streak" saves him from "wishful thinking" and weaves together the attitudes of right, readiness, willingness, and will to believe, and that "willing faith" lends "the facts" their aura of believability.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.