Description of “options” and examples:
William James suggests that you can see the origin of every belief which is divided into three categories, live, forced, and momentous. He believes that the decision made before believing something is an “option”. To have a “live” option means that whatever your choosing between makes sense to who you are in some way. Whether this is based on societal, cultural, or financial reasons the option should be something that could happen. A person could ask me if I believed in the water gods and that would be a “dead” option for me, because I am monotheistic ad believe in one God If the same question was asked to a person who believes in many gods but maybe not those in particular then it would be a “live” option because it is something makes sense to them. If someone asks you to choose between two options and you have no option to not choose then that is a forced option. Although you are still having some form of freedom you are still put in a box. If I give you some skittles and tell you to pick out your favorite flavor then I am forcing you to pick a flavor. You may not even like skittles but the fact that you have no say makes it a “forced” option and assumption that you like skittles. Lastly, a momentous option is something that is spontaneous, whether that is because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity or maybe its something that is very rare. If a person has the option to study abroad for one semester all paid for, rather than stay at their school they may choose it just because its a one time experience. This is indeed a momentous option. The once in a lifetime opportunity becomes the reason for someone to believe they need to go.
Belief that fits all:
I think religion could be something that fits all categories. With different beliefs and customs in religion it leads to many “live” and “dead” options. Religion is also something that could be “forced” option depending on family, community, and sometimes where you live. If you believe in some form of religion or custom then that means that for whatever reason that religion is spontaneous to yourself, and the “momentous” option comes in because we essentially only have one life, and our way of life now in most religions will affect your way of life or existence in the “afterlife”.
Exception:
Clifford argues that any belief based upon insufficient evidence is wrong but James suggests that their are reasons for choosing certain things whether you know every piece of information or not. James does in my opinion give an exception to Clifford’s argument and gives 3 reasons why someone may believe or choose something without all forms of evidence. For example, some people choose religion because it gives hope and a clear understanding for our whole existence. Because of this many don’t even question what they are told, they just abide by it, which in Clifford’s case would be wrong and in James case would be a momentous option.
My Opinion:
I agree with both Clifford and James, I feel like in certain situations it is not good to believe things without all of the information. However to James point there are reasons for believing something without all the evidence or information. So I stand in the middle
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