In a pragmatic account of belief acquisition/retention, personal choice and action play crucial roles. According to pragmatism, beliefs are seen as persistent attitudinal habits of action, implying that actions precede the formation and retention of beliefs. In this perspective, beliefs are not passive entities but rather emerge from ongoing experiences and interactions with the world.
Regarding the question of personal choice, it is the individual's actions that culminate in the development of persistent attitudinal habits. The individual chooses the actions they engage in, and these actions shape their beliefs over time. This means that the focus is on choosing the actions that facilitate the formation and retention of certain beliefs, rather than directly choosing the beliefs themselves.
In William James' account of the "will to believe," he emphasizes the role of personal choice in adopting beliefs even in the absence of conclusive evidence. However, it is important to note that James' notion of "willing to believe" should be understood in the pragmatic context. The choice is not solely about the belief itself but rather about the action of being open to new experiences, engaging with different perspectives, and actively exploring ideas. By engaging in these actions, individuals create the conditions for the development and persistence of their attitudinal habits, which ultimately shape their beliefs.
So, in line with pragmatism and James' philosophy, one could argue that the individual is primarily willing the action that facilitates belief rather than directly willing the belief itself. This perspective aligns with the idea that beliefs are formed and retained through ongoing experiential engagement with the world, where actions and experiences shape and reinforce attitudinal habits over time.
While it may seem that James' emphasis on the "will to believe" places the choice on the belief, understanding his philosophy within the broader context of pragmatism clarifies that the choice is fundamentally about the actions and attitudes that lead to belief acquisition and retention.
Therefore, there is no inherent contradiction in James' philosophy, as long as his account of "willing to believe" is interpreted through the lens of pragmatism and the primacy of action in belief formation.
Produced by Clint Warren - Aided by ChatGPT
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