The Will to Believe

This inspiring classic by William James is an impassioned defence of the right of a person to believe in something without prior evidence having presented itself.

This book was originally a lengthy lecture by James, first delivered to audiences in 1896. Setting out to defend the right of individuals to be religious irrespective of pure logic and reason, the lecture highlights many of the proven advantages conferred by the belief in a guiding divine force. 

James deftly cites many real life examples to prove his points - noting that many tasks or duties require confidence, he notes how individuals can perform and surmount difficulties if they believe in the divine. For such persons to abandon faith would therefore be irrational, as their religious beliefs have helped them in life. This argument is closely aligned with James' personal philosophical alignment with pragmatism. 

The Will to Believe also contains arguments in favour of persons having their own free will. James contested simply that as he believed in his own free will, he had it. As well as this, we hear several philosophical arguments in which James discusses the merits of empiricism versus absolutism. 

A psychologist with a strong interest in religion as a human phenomena worthy of study, James had spent decades studying the connections between human belief systems, mysticism, metaphysics and human behaviour. His quest for reason led to his being well regarded by contemporaries such as Freud and Durkheim, and posthumously by important figures such as President Jimmy Carter.