Why Clifford says what we believe is not merely a private matter but a moral issue?
Clifford was involved in discussions with other scholars on the controversial subject of belief in an effort to resolve the usual notions held by people. Bringing in the subject of morality, Clifford (1999) declared that it was unethical for people to trust a claim without a clear and or a valid basis. In addition, his petition to such clarification was put to tension with his noticeable denial of the thought that the ethical position of an achievement relies on its results. Clifford stresses that, for anybody to uphold any ideology, there has to be sufficient evidence unlike upholding concepts that are based on conclusive evidences.
What is morally permissible for us to believe?
It is morally permissible to believe in a reality that only corresponds to a belief when there are some aspects of peripheral justificatory means. People have the freedom of belief just as much as they enjoy the freedom of speech if no harm is done or committed. Clifford does not secularize on heresy concepts when he pronounces what people should not believe. He gives emphasis from the start of his thesis that an accomplishment is either accurate or inaccurate regardless of the unintentional breakdown of its fruits of good or wickedness. Additionally, he says that, even if harm is done unintentionally through actions done on unjustified beliefs, the wrong morals may not be lessened by the need of the result.
Clifford’s implications of his views on religious faith
On religious beliefs, Clifford advises that belief matters are private and that people have the right to choose whichever religion to believe. He adds that a judgment can be done on whether the action done was right or wrong only when the actions of a Christian have an impact on other people. When the action is judged as wrong, it is then said not to be a belief but an action. To sum up, Clifford (1999) suggests that religious beliefs are not private and that people’s lives are directed by the universal elements of the things and or issues that have been formulated by other people for their mutual benefit. Therefore, people’s expressions, opinions, mode procedure, vocabulary, and structures are commonly perfected and fashioned from time to time.
Reference
Clifford, W. K. (1999). The Ethics of Belief. New York: Prometheus Books.