I often encounter philosophers and thinkers discussing beliefs, as if they are products of our choosings. Some even blame people for having irrational or false beliefs. But how much of control do we even have over our beliefs? — Curious Layman
Personally, I think you would need to divide believers into two categories: (1) those who unconsciously absorb beliefs from the surrounding society, without ever reflecting on them, and (2) those who examine their own beliefs after which they decide to either keep them or exchange them for alternative beliefs or sets of beliefs. — Apollodorus
Basically open and closed minded individuals — Tiberiusmoon
Maybe "BELIES" in the discussion title should be changed to "BELIEFS"? — Apollodorus
I'm not sure if "close minded" is the right word. Maybe just "unreflective"? I think most people are like that in many different ways. When we're busy living our lives we don't always have the time or energy to reflect on our beliefs. — Apollodorus
I often encounter philosophers and thinkers discussing beliefs, as if they are products of our choosings. Some even blame people for having irrational or false beliefs. But how much of control do we even have over our beliefs? — Curious Layman
If the Earth is in fact round, then the assertion "The Earth is Flat" cannot be referring to the non-existent fact that the Earth is flat. And so at most "The Earth is Flat" refers to the possibility that the Earth is flat. But how can beliefs refer to possibilities? — sime
But I think there is an additional problem in this particular case. The Earth is "round" from a scientific or learned perspective. But in everyday life our experience is that the Earth is flat.
If the Earth is flat for all ordinary, practical purposes, then believing that it is flat can't be entirely "false". — Apollodorus
don't think you can choose your beliefs any more than you can choose who you love. — Tom Storm
Makes you wonder if a person's observation or thinking can be hindered by not having a greater perspective, which can lead to a false positive. — Tiberiusmoon
Hmm, so maybe the understanding/context of what field/perspective is a consideration within the questions/problems we try to solve. — Tiberiusmoon
After all, knowledge is justified true beliefs. — Curious Layman
The word "love" suggests an emotional approach to the issue. When emotions are involved, matters may get more complicated. — Apollodorus
But you may be onto something, A- it may not be wrong to say people come to ideas for emotional reasons. Now how would you test for that? — Tom Storm
The case of more reflective and analytical minds is of course a different story. That's why I said that believers need to be classified according to their capacity of reflective thought. — Apollodorus
Some people are frankly too frightened of life to engage in reflection. In all this the salient question is always to what extent people will be rewarded or punished for doing this - by their own thought systems or by the family and culture they live in. — Tom Storm
The ego, the emotional part of our psyche, wants to be reassured in its emotional needs and therefore tends to seek out — Apollodorus
I think you would need to divide believers into two categories: (1) those who unconsciously absorb beliefs from the surrounding society, without ever reflecting on them, and (2) those who examine their own beliefs after which they decide to either keep them or exchange them — Apollodorus
it is possible that the Earth is flat, then presumably the Flat Earther is referring to this possibility, in which case his assertion cannot be judged as false. — sime
Maybe people who are raised to accept immoral acts as the norm would want to change such beliefs in a similar way, especially if they are in prison etc. — Tiberiusmoon
But to change a belief at will, especially one aquired when raised is almost exactly the same as breaking a habit. (like smoking, drugs etc.) — Tiberiusmoon
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.