What cannot be said can be shown. — Banno
Suppose that Bob's theory changes over the time spent on the island, but Bob doesn't notice. There's no written record to compare it to, and George has no idea.
Slowly, over time, Bob comes to think the exact opposite of what he first believed, but does not notice.
It would be very strange to claim here that Bob had a theory. — Banno
1. Why would it be strange to claim Bob had a theory? — Hanover
I'm just saying he apparently held two different beliefs at two different times and now he holds an incorrect belief that he's never changed his belief. — Hanover
We can see that he held two different beliefs.
That is, in order to understand this situation, we are needed.
Beliefs require the Other. — Banno
This is just an empirically incorrect epistimological statement, declaring that the only way to establish knowledge of prior events is through witness testimony. Recording devices, physical evidence, personal recollections are all other ways, not withstanding that witnesses can just as easily forget as you can. — Hanover
You aren't persuaded by Chomsky? — frank
I'm more interested in how we would manage to have the idea of privacy if, as you say, it's nothing.
How does that work in your view? — frank
I tried to defend the notion that to believe something is to act as if it is true. It didn't work — Banno
You could argue that beliefs are things that could be acted upon. — Srap Tasmaner
belief P explains action A if P and only P is a member of every set of beliefs that explains A. — Srap Tasmaner
In the example - which you set up - recording devices, physical evidence, personal recollections are ruled out ex hypothesi. Any such device would make the example public, nullifying your argument. — Banno
This is a thread about belief. — Banno
So to explain why he launched himself in a self-built rocket, buggering his back, we say "Mad Mike Hughes believes the world is flat, and he wanted to prove it by flying in a rocket".
What this means is that Mad Mike acts as if the world is flat. What this does not mean is that there is a thing in Mad Mike's head that is a belief that the world is flat. — Banno
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