The Will to Believe

What it is

The Will to Believe is a lecture by William James, first published in 1896. In it, James defends the rationality of adopting a belief, including religious faith, even without sufficient evidence, when a choice is 'live, forced and momentous.'

Why it matters

James argues that in certain genuine options we cannot avoid choosing, and that waiting for complete evidence is itself a kind of choice. He compares this to confidence needed to accomplish difficult tasks, including scientific work itself. The lecture became, alongside William K. Clifford's opposing essay on the ethics of belief, a key text in debates over faith, evidence, and when it is reasonable to believe without proof.

Look closer

• What does James mean by calling an option 'live,' 'forced,' and 'momentous'?
• Why might James have chosen to address this lecture to students, opening with jokes about Harvard and Yale?
• Do you find his argument convincing for religious belief specifically, or only for everyday confidence?