The Ethics of Belief (William K. Clifford)

William K. Clifford's "The Ethics of Belief" argues that holding beliefs responsibly is a moral obligation. He emphasizes that forming beliefs without sufficient evidence—or blindly trusting inadequate information—is ethically wrong because beliefs influence actions and influence others. Clifford advocates for careful, rational inquiry, suggesting that we should only believe what we can reasonably justify through evidence. Failing to do so, he asserts, not only risks personal misjudgments but also harms society by spreading false or uninformed ideas. Essentially, Clifford believes we have a duty to believe only what evidence supports, promoting truth and moral integrity.