In this Book

buy this book Buy This Book in Print
summary
William James’ 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’ 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 weighing of the evidence for belief.

Table of Contents

Download PDF Download Full Book Download EPUB Download Full EPUB
  1. Cover
  2. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Title Page
  2. p. iii
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Copyright
  2. p. iv
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Dedication
  2. p. v
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Contents
  2. p. vii
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Preface
  2. pp. ix-x
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Acknowledgments
  2. p. xi
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Abbreviations
  2. p. xiii
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-5
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 1. The Argument of "The Will to Believe"
  2. pp. 7-22
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 2. On Matter and Manner
  2. pp. 23-32
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 3. James and Pascal
  2. pp. 33-52
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 4. Is It "Wishful Thinking"?
  2. pp. 53-69
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 5. Outcomes and Over-beliefs
  2. pp. 70-83
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 6. The Precursive Force of Over-beliefs
  2. pp. 84-91
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 7. The Strata of the Passional
  2. pp. 92-106
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. 8. The Metaphors of Belief
  2. pp. 107-122
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Epilogue: On Becoming Humanly Wise
  2. pp. 123-134
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Appendix A: "The Will to Believe"and James's "Deontological Streak"
  2. pp. 135-158
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Appendix B: Faith and Facts in James's "Will to Believe"
  2. pp. 159-188
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Appendix C: James's Voluntarism: Readiness, Willingness, or Will to Believe?
  2. pp. 189-218
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 219-223
  3. open access
    • HTML icon View
    • PDF icon Download
Back To Top