Abstract:
In this study I aim to develop and defend an account of religious faith that is motivated by William James's 1895 lecture, 'The Will to Believe'. The Jamesian account of faith defends our right to act on a belief, even if the truth of that belief cannot be settled on the basis of evidential considerations. The first Chapter aims to develop a prima facie case for the philosophical viability of the Jamesian account of faith. Given that James's account of faith is controversial, Chapter One will also consider a range of critiques that threaten to undermine the prima facie case. This study will also defend the view that the reflective Muslim can wholeheartedly endorse the Jamesian account of faith. This contention is open to question, as there are considerations that arise from within the tradition of Islam that serve as potential obstacles to endorsing James's account. The first such consideration, or perceived obstacle, which I address in Chapter Two, concerns the challenge of scepticism which we encounter in work of Abu Hamid al-GhazalΓ(c.1055-1111). Chapter Three once again engages with the work of al-GhazalFand considers an account of faith that is grounded in the tradition of Islamic mysticism or Sufism. The Sufi account if true would undermine the need for the Jamesian account. I contend that the challenge of scepticism and the Sufi account need not be seen as obstacles that would prevent the reflective Muslim from endorsing James's account of faith. The fourth Chapter considers a positive case for the Jamesian account of faith. I argue that there are strong philosophical and theological reasons in favour of James's account. Chapters Five and Six consider issues which require continued reflection even after one endorses the Jamesian account, in particular; I consider a contemporary evidentialist critiques of James, and I also explore the philosophical viability of the religious pluralism that is associated with the Jamesian account of faith. My overall conclusion is that the Jamesian account of faith is philosophically viable, and that a reflective Muslim can endorse this account while being aligned with the tradition of Islam.