There is much discussion these days about the dangers of confidence. Those who think their beliefs are true are
feared and even hated. Evil of all sorts
has been traced back to confidence, and confidence is declared its root and
source. The remedy for evil in this view, then, is for everyone to reduce
their confidence in their beliefs. It's commonly thought that this would
make the world a better place.
On the other hand, on this blog (see here
and here,
for example) I've argued that confidence is a morally neutral trait.
Instead, what matters is what you're putting your confidence in.
If your confidence is well placed in the true and the good then great good will
follow. But if your confidence is wrongly placed in false and evil ideas,
then great evil will follow. The problem, therefore, is the false
beliefs, not the confidence which can serve either good or evil. The
remedy for evil in this view is for everyone to address the actual beliefs
people hold, encouraging others to reduce their confidence in false beliefs and
raise their confidence in true ones. The greater confidence people have
in good, true beliefs, the better off this world will be.
If this second view is correct, then seeing confidence as the
root of evil and pressuring everyone to have less confidence will have the
unfortunate effect of causing a net loss of not only bad things in this world,
but also a great deal of good. To do good is a very, very difficult
enterprise--one that is often met with ridicule and intense opposition (just
look at Jesus). Confidence is an absolute necessity for anyone who
would persevere through this.
William Wilberforce
is a perfect example of the blessings of confidence. How was he able to fight for twenty years, enduring scorn and
personal attacks day in and day out, to put an end to the slave trade in
The grand object of my parliamentary existence [is the abolition of the slave trade]. . . Before this great cause all others dwindle in my eyes, and I must say that the certainty that I am right here, adds greatly to the complacency [i.e., the settled, peaceful confidence] with which I exert myself in asserting it. If it please God to honor me so far, may I be the instrument of stopping such a course of wickedness and cruelty as never before disgraced a Christian country.
Wilberforce was certain
that he was right about what was wicked and cruel, and he was certain that the right thing for him to
do was to stop that wickedness. That is
what drove him steadily on to end the suffering of hundreds of thousands of
people. Would you have chided him for
his confidence? If so, what if he had listened to you? What if all the abolitionists had listened to you? The world would now be a much uglier place.
Let's work to end evil, not confidence.
