Reconstruct one of his arguments (not the examples) in standard form. Then evaluate that argument for soundness and validity. What practical significance does Clifford’s thesis have? Do you see any fallacies in Clifford’s reasoning?
Fallacy: Slippery Slope
Premise: All beliefs influence action in some way or another.
Premise: Actions based on unjustified beliefs cause harm directly or they promote credulity which results in broad social ills
Conclusion: It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence. (Clifford, page 7)
“He said to himself that she had gone safely through so many voyages and weathered so many storms that it was idle to suppose that she would not come safely home from this trip also. He would put his trust in Providence, which could hardly fail to protect all these unhappy families that were leaving their fatherland to seek for better times elsewhere.” (Clifford 1). In his work, The Ethics of Belief, Clifford discusses believing in something with insufficient evidence. To elaborate on this theory, Clifford explains how a shipowner is putting his trust into a boat that luckily survived countless trips for a number of years. This ship is about to carry many immigrants from their home to a new place. He reassures himself against all his doubts, that this is just one more trip to chalk up and everything/everyone will arrive safely. According to Clifford, it is always immoral to believe anything without proper evidence.
Word Count: 209
Understanding Life As We Know it 