That raises the obvious question of what form that representation might take. — Banno
What other animals have beliefs? Or is that just a PC concession? — Wayfarer
What about: In order to count as a belief, the believer must know what the proposition means.
It does not seem too unreasonable to suppose that belief has some dependence on meaning. — Banno
What job is being done by restricting the term 'belief' to those in possession of language? — Pseudonym
Then how are we to assess whether the believer 'knows' what the proposition means. — Pseudonym
we would have that
A belief is a relation between an individual and a proposition.
The individual must understand the meaning of the proposition in order to believe that proposition. — Banno
In other cases, watch how they act. — Banno
I cannot ask a Polynesian to explain their beliefs because they will have no idea what I'm saying and I will be unable to understand any response. — Pseudonym
how is not just stimuli-respone that when you hear the words "explain your beliefs" you respond with words which correspond to the way you intend to react to certain propositions? — Pseudonym
you might, though. It’s only a matter of translation. Polynesians are humans. Unlike, say, lions. — Wayfarer
Find me a thermostat which suspects you’re materialist. — Wayfarer
(My emphasis)an attitude which accepts a proposition as true with insufficient evidence — Galuchat
So believing is something the mind does? That's interesting.belief is a mental function. — Galuchat
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