Are You Agnostic About Certain Beliefs?

3min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Huxley believes that our passion and volitional nature lay at the root of all of our convictions. He also thinks there are certain beliefs we can't be agnostic about. Suspending judgment is the same as disbelieving it, he says. You have to take a stand because not taking a stand is also taking a stand.

David and Tamler argue about William James' classic essay "The Will to Believe." What's more important - avoiding falsehood or discovering truth? When (if ever) is it rational to believe anything without enough evidence? What about beliefs that we can't be agnostic about? Are there hypotheses that we have to believe in order for them to come true? Does James successfully demonstrate that faith can be rational?

Plus, a philosopher at Apple who's not allowed to talk to the media - what are they hiding? And why are academics constantly telling students that academia is a nightmare?

Support Very Bad Wizards

Links: