William Kingdon Clifford Quote

A little reflection will show us that every belief, even the simplest and most fundamental, goes beyond experience when regarded as a guide to our actions. … Even the fundamental "I am," which cannot be doubted, is no guide to action until it takes to itself "I shall be," which goes beyond experience. The question is not, therefore, "May we believe what goes beyond experience?" for this is involved in the very nature of belief; but "How far and in what manner may we add to our experience in forming our beliefs?"


The Ethics of Belief (1877) - The Limits Of Inference


A little reflection will show us that every belief, even the simplest and most fundamental, goes beyond experience when regarded as a guide to our...

A little reflection will show us that every belief, even the simplest and most fundamental, goes beyond experience when regarded as a guide to our...

A little reflection will show us that every belief, even the simplest and most fundamental, goes beyond experience when regarded as a guide to our...

A little reflection will show us that every belief, even the simplest and most fundamental, goes beyond experience when regarded as a guide to our...