The Will to Believe, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy

A collection of philosophical essays argues for a permissive account of religious faith and practical belief, defending the right to adopt beliefs when evidence is inconclusive but the decision is a living, forced, and momentous option. It develops a radical empiricist stance that treats monism as a hypothesis and accepts pluralism and irreducible givenness in experience. Several pieces examine the psychology and ethics of belief, critique strict evidentialism and pure rationalism, and propose pragmatic standards for assessing religious and moral hypotheses by their practical consequences. Other essays address issues of determinism, reason's limits, and the interplay between intellectual inquiry and personal commitment.