Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Oh I see! I may not believe something but still give intellectual assent to it, right?
IF in your mind it is a CHOICE between competing alternatives . . . Yes! When you truly believe . . . there is no way to choose an alternative . . . you believe, period . . . it is NOT a choice . . . it is or it isn't. The truth is within . . . NOT your proclamations.
Last edited by MysticPhD; 10-05-2010 at 12:51 PM..
Intellectual assent is NOT belief. Belief is completely independent of choice or intellectual assent . . . it just is or is NOT! What you truly believe is revealed in your motivations and behaviors . . . it can be claimed or denied . . . but it remains what it is regardless.
I "believe" that I must make a conscious choice to believe anything at all. Call me a nihilist.
I "believe" that I must make a conscious choice to believe anything at all. Call me a nihilist.
All that means is you actually believe in nothing . . . but I am certain that is not true of you. You are simply focused on the intellectual acceptance of competing things. How you live and behave reveals what you truly believe about our reality.
All that means is you actually believe in nothing . . . but I am certain that is not true of you. You are simply focused on the intellectual acceptance of competing things. How you live and behave reveals what you truly believe about our reality.
Isn't that what I've said? I don't believe in anything? I have to think it true to believe it. The thinking comes before any believing--so according to you I don't believe in anything.
I beg to differ about the the ability to think before believing.
IF in your mind it is a CHOICE between competing alternatives . . . Yes! When you truly believe . . . there is no way to choose an alternative . . . you believe, period . . . it is NOT a choice . . . it is or it isn't. The truth is within . . . NOT your proclamations.
RESPONSE:
So if I insist on "truly believing" in, say, Santa Claus, it is a
"truth within" and rationally making a decision has nothing to do with it?
So if I insist on "truly believing" in, say, Santa Claus, it is a
"truth within" and rationally making a decision has nothing to do with it?
You cannot "WILL" it . . what do you not understand about that. It has nothing to do with your intellectual acknowledgment or acceptance, period. It either exists or it doesn't.
>>It has nothing to do with your intellectual acknowledgment or acceptance, period. It either exists or it doesn't.<<
RESPONSE:
Objectively, it exists of it doesn't. Subjectively, it involves"intellectual acknowledgment or acceptance"
Or rejection of rational thinking and acceptance of blind belief (which can be belief in anything or nothing).
Should a person be rational in all things except religion?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
