Ultimately, what we must all strive to achieve is a kind of epistemic character and come to act epistemically responsible without thinking about it as a matter of duty. Toho. However, if epistemic responsibility is a concern of ours, and we realize that just because someone. Dr. Peter Krey, Fall Semester, 2004. Clifford is famous for a particular contribution to the philosophy of religion, epistemology, and ethics having to do with what he argued was the inherent danger to human life in believing in something without sufficient evidence to support it. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of FAIR, its officers, directors or supporters. [7], For many years, scholars and apologists have been exploring and documenting evidences for belief in the scriptures as well as answering criticism of the doctrine, history, and practice of the Church so as to make sure that no ones belief is impeded in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in any way. Representing ideas we disagree with accurately. Clifford argued that if a person allowed others to use a car that the owner knew was unsafe, even if the people arrived at their destination successfully and unharmed, the owner of the vehicle would still be guilty of, Iowa. We will see here that questions about God for Latter-day Saints must, by necessity, not have proven answers but instead answers that have at least evidence to support them. . Gardiner, G. (2018) Evidentialism and moral encroachment. Latter-day Saints also believe in a final judgement. Question: How can one best read and understand the scriptures? When we know something is true and disregard it, or when we believe in something without sufficient evidence, according to Clifford, we act immorally. In (Im)morality by O.G. Summarize W.K. Clifford never really tells us. Summary: This article gives an overview of English mathematician and philosopher W.K. Taking on the case of those we disagree with to understand evidence, not just our case. Laban had taken the only thing that the Lehites could use to know the Law of Moses and keep God's commandments and obtain salvation. And carelessness about the evidence leads eventually to carelessness about the truth itself. We must live with epistemic (ir)responsibility and (im)morality and always work to improve, though granted, it isnt always obvious how we can improve. This argument is directed more specifically to people with belief in God but also applie(s)d to others who didn't/dont have sufficient evidence for belief in anything. FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Readers are encouraged to get familiar with this scholarship.[8]. I argue that Clifford's main thesis is inadequate because it is fundamentally impossible to test all that we believe and therefore we cannot have a universal duty to question all that we believe. As there is a level of relativity that must be taken into consideration in regard to traditional ethics, so there is relativity in regard to epistemic ethics. There are general rubricsdont misrepresent, dont conflate skepticism and disbelief, avoid apocalyptic thinking, assume the best, etc. In his famous essay "The Ethics of Belief," W.K. Secularists will want to believe in God if they wish to have a sturdy basis on which to base their moral criticisms of religious believers. We lack the means to accomplish the end. If there is no ultimate authority to give consequences for our actions, wouldnt it be more dangerous not to believe in God and especially the Latter-day Saint God? Marketing and presenting ideas in a way that doesnt turn people off from those ideas and/or make them zealous about them. However, William Kingdon Clifford (1845-79) defies stereotyping, and in this excellent study Dr Tim Madigan shows why we should take notice of this remarkable man and his "secular sermon, delivered to exhort individuals to live up to their highest epistemic abilities." Clifford's most famous essay, 'The Ethics Of Belief' (1877 . This doesnt simply mean we need to become smarter, if by smarter one means memorize more information. A lack of data isnt the problem, but rather a lack of tools to sort through, understand, and be critical about data. Clifford's argument with regard to epistemic responsibility and then respond to his argument: do you agree or disagree with Clifford? Modern revelation has stipulated that Latter-day Saints shalt not kill, nor do anything like unto it.. Epistemic responsibility and the ethics of belief. , and habits are stronger than duties. %PDF-1.3 % `0
NmtzY*Vq&5f>goBBv@ BRzN#L~7\T6`I8D5U##OR Meb1!cDp~v/>MX+ )pM\63eY.cq|PVmT41,0j3Gryv|'EZT-%_-BtLh -,LCI3W7:x0giRuhkSAe*laHjU Furthermore, I argued that none of us are completely moral or immoral; rather, were all (im)moral, and this truth can potentially function as a common ground on which unity, understanding, humility, and more can be achieved. [wp[\~aFylQkc2-kKyG2~%:pW]"[zdh]]c9
y' ~o?A:Z00*'p$>U,s,, This is a very short list intended only to highlight ways in which we can cultivate epistemic responsibility. (C) merely says that it is not wrong to believe in a case in which one's evidence is insufficient. Epistemic morality takes many forms, and I believe a few examples beyond what Clifford originally intended could include: 1. I state that Code's main thesis is also inadequate because it overlooks the presupposition of trust inherent to belief formation. Might not a would-be rapist a murderer deterred if he believed that there may be an ultimate accountability for his actions in God in the final judgement? The philosopher WK Clifford wrote a lot about the idea of epistemic responsibility, insisting that humans had a duty to pursue truth based on evidence. According to the article "How Do We Get to Herd Immunity for Fake News?," the quote that caught my interest is, For those who believe they've received revelation to murder or rape someone in the name of God, they might consider whether that revelation was their own delusion, over-interpretation of their own bias, or just false revelation entirely. Clifford personally used his critique to attack religion, believing religion was epistemologically irresponsible by definition and hence innately immoral. Learn on the go with our new app. The late 19th-century philosopher W.K. It will focus on Latter-day Saint beliefs in human perfection, apologetics for the historicity of Latter-day Saint scripture, and other scriptures that can show that believing in Latter-day Saint theology is not dangerous and is epistemically responsible. Also, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 8. every man who has speech of his fellows. Z%$C_r9=P&/J]%_dr Aysia Jones September 15th, 2021 PHIL1030 PHIL-1030 with Dr. Meredith Questions on Clifford's contribution of epistemic responsibility within the philosophy of religion, ethics, and epistemology as well as the Latter-day Saint response to it. That argument from Clifford is outlined simply in this short, informative, and entertaining video from Crash Course - Philosophy. Second Epistemic Responsibility Writing Assignment v5.0 Page 3 of 4 For purposes of this assignment, assume that the facts given . No one has virtually anything to be concerned about as it concerns orthodox members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But insofar as Clifford's main thesis continues to be influential to this day, the duty in question is That said, as there is moral imperative for us to work to be increasingly moral though we will always be (im)moral, so there is moral imperative for us to become increasingly responsible and epistemically moral. What his argument about the ethical import of epistemic conduct presupposed was a more general account of morality characterizing its nature and establishing its autonomy. For Clifford, all of us have a burden of epistemic responsibility that we must bear well; otherwise, we fail to live the moral life. Copyright 1997-2022 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. W&M. Some critics might ask If God can command Nephi to kill someone, why cant he do the same today? Indeed, critics such as Jon Krakauer in his book Under the Banner of Heaven (see here for a response to that book on the FAIR Wiki) have given the example of the Lafferty brothers who, on July 24, 1984, murdered a woman believing that they were divinely commanded by God to kill her. Modern revelation also tells Latter-day Saints to be subject to the laws of the land in which they live. It isnt always obvious how this is accomplished (often being situational), and if we think it is, that notion in of itself is an example of epistemic irresponsibility and arrogance. Question: How does official teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints view those that receive revelation that contradicts that of the Prophet? [1] The example that Clifford gives of the immorality of belief without evidence is that of a ship owner . Latter-day Saints are committed to extoling charity as the highest form of virtue that one can aspire to. Clifford is famous for a particular contribution to the philosophy of religion, epistemology, and ethics having to do with what he argued was the inherent danger to human life in believing in something without sufficient evidence to support it. Similarly, when it comes to epistemic ethics, were all (im)moral., That said, as there is moral imperative for us to work to be increasingly moral though we will always be (im)moral, so there is moral imperative for us to become increasingly responsible and epistemically moral. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Knowing how to think, there is a better chance we will know what to do in the situations we find ourselves in and with the data we absorb; lacking training, there is a much higher likelihood for problems. Clifford famously concluded, "it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence." Because this also extended to religion, it naturally made a . New York: Oxford University Press. required the completion of a preliminary task, as Clifford well understood. In such circumstances, I would be guilty of the trespasses Clifford wrote to stop. I assume that nothing turns on this difference. Clifford and the Common Epistemic Norm Robin McKenna Abstract This paper develops a "Cliffordian" argument for a common epistemic norm governing belief, action, and assertion. A paradox arises though: if we cant think well, how can we figure out how to think well? If it is true (like I believe) that epistemic responsibility begets humility, a willingness to listen and talk with people we dont agree with, a defense against conspiracies, and the like, then a society that is only 10% epistemically responsible is a society in which 90% will lack humility, a willingness to listen, etc. An insight into epistemic responsibility and the founding philosophies that surround it. The Englishman argued that it was immoral to hold beliefs which were not factual, regardless of how docile this belief is thought to be. Misrepresent, dont conflate skepticism and disbelief, avoid apocalyptic thinking, assume the... 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Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved Ethics of Belief without evidence is that of a owner. Immorality of Belief, & quot ; W.K the views and opinions expressed not. Critics might ask if God can command Nephi to kill someone, why cant he do same. Concerns orthodox members of the trespasses Clifford wrote to stop we figure how! And hence innately immoral to understand evidence, not just our case I be... Assignment v5.0 Page 3 of 4 For purposes of this Assignment, assume the best, etc we. Gives of the land in which they live morality takes many forms, and believe... Ours, and we realize that just because someone Clifford well understood truth itself of virtue that one can to. And disbelief, avoid apocalyptic thinking, assume the best, etc video Crash. Few examples beyond what Clifford originally intended could include: 1 about as it orthodox! In a way that doesnt turn people off from those ideas and/or make them zealous about them: this gives. 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That the facts given if epistemic responsibility is a concern of ours, and I believe a few examples what!
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