Faith

Abstract

We examine what faith is, its potential value, and when it is rational. From among the many uses of “faith,” we identify three core phenomena of theoretical interest. We then discuss the relation of faith to belief, doubt, and other cognitive states and sketch an account of faith before considering when faith can be rational and when an understanding of faith can make a practical difference to a life well lived.

Normative appraisals of faith in God

“…Moreover, there are accounts of faith on offer in the literature on which the entailment does not hold. 2 In contrast to Hazlett's view, these accounts can readily explain why it makes sense to take someone to have faith that God exists, even if there isn't anyone in whom they have faith to bring it about that there is a Godnot even God. Premise (2), the claim that interpersonal faith entails interpersonal trust, is perhaps less consequential, though here again whether the entailment holds depends on just what faith and trust are.…”

“…2 In contrast to Hazlett's view, these accounts can readily explain why it makes sense to take someone to have faith that God exists, even if there isn't anyone in whom they have faith to bring it about that there is a Godnot even God. Premise (2), the claim that interpersonal faith entails interpersonal trust, is perhaps less consequential, though here again whether the entailment holds depends on just what faith and trust are. 3 It's often assumed that if God does not exist the right attitude is to not have faith and that, if God does exist, full-blown faith is the right attitude to have, and is always preferable to relevant alternatives.…”

How Does Trust Relate to Faith?

“… 2 See, e.g., Preston-Roedder (2013, 2018, 2022, in press), Bishop and McKaughan (2022), Buchak (2017b), Rice. McKaughan, and Howard-Snyder (2017), and McKaughan and Howard-Snyder (in press b, forthcoming). …”

“…When propositional belief is the cognitive component of faith, faith does not preclude believing "thinner" faithfulness, and the defects of 'faith' in English, see McKaughan and Howard-Snyder (2022a). On the diversity of uses of 'faith' in English, see McKaughan and Howard-Snyder (2022b). 4 On credence, see McKaughan (2016), Buchak (2017a), Vainio (2020), and Jackson (2021).…”

“…When propositional belief is the cognitive component of faith, faith does not preclude believing "thinner" faithfulness, and the defects of 'faith' in English, see McKaughan and Howard-Snyder (2022a). On the diversity of uses of 'faith' in English, see McKaughan and Howard-Snyder (2022b). propositions. For example, if Jim has faith in his therapist to help him, instead of believing the "thick" proposition that she will help him, he might believe the "thinner" proposition that she will likely help, or that she will more likely than not help, etc.…”