Sadler's Lectures William James, The Will To Be - Certitude And Truth - Sadler's Lectures
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May 11, 2024 Guest William James discusses the relationship between certitude and truth, distinguishing empiricism and absolutism. He challenges the idea of absolute certainty in knowledge and explores the limitations of truth criteria throughout philosophy.
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Two Ways To Believe In Truth
- William James distinguishes two ways of believing truth exists: empiricism and absolutism, focusing on belief not guaranteed knowledge.
- Absolutists claim we can know when we have truth; empiricists deny infallible signals that tell us we've found it.
Objective Evidence As An Ideal
- Absolutists appeal to 'objective evidence' as a direct correspondence between intellect and reality that leaves no doubt.
- James shows this ideal involves a subjective feeling of rest in cognition but questions its availability.
Instinctive Dogmatism Among Empiricists
- Even self-proclaimed empiricists often dogmatize instinctively like absolutists when unreflective.
- James argues instinctual certainty often masquerades as universally sufficient evidence.