Is belief/non-belief a morally culpable state?

[timothyu]

Here's a question: Does anyone on this entire forum think that what he/she believes is false? Anyone?

One could only accurately make that statement about a completely original concept coming from self. All else is conjecture

 

[2PhiloVoid]

If I say yes, would you believe me?

Yes, I do think people must question their beliefs on this forum whenever correction is taking place.

Not to be a heel, but I think you misunderstood my question. My question pertains to whether or not any individual on this forum, at this moment, holds any beliefs that he/she knows to be false.

For myself, I will say that I don't 'believe' anything that I know to be false.

 

[childeye 2]

One could only accurately make that statement about a completely original concept coming from self. All else is conjecture

The question begins, "Does anyone on this entire forum 'think' ...." <--- We're being invited to project.

So, rephrase: Do you , timothyu, ever 'think' you could be wrong?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

One could only accurately make that statement about a completely original concept coming from self. All else is conjecture

That's a good point, but analytically, we can definitely differentiate between a conjecture and an idea that we know is false. A person might believe his conjecture has at least some factual substance because he may have a few small bits of evidence, however inconclusive those bits may be, that indicate a direction for a possible truth. Belief in something false, however, would seem to me to be an oxymoron.

 

[childeye 2]

Not to be a heel, but I think you misunderstood my question. My question pertains to whether or not and individual on this forum, at this moment, holds any beliefs that he/she knows to be false.

For myself, I will say that I don't 'believe' anything that I know to be false.

No fair, you've changed the question by adding "at this moment" and replacing "believes" to "knows".

 

[2PhiloVoid]

No fair, you've changed the question.

I did?

 

[timothyu]

So, rephrase: Do you , timothyu, ever 'think' you could be wrong?

Of course. That is why God says to continually seek Him.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Does anyone on this entire forum think that what he/she believes is false? Anyone?

I believe the Las Vegas Raiders are going all the way to the Superbowl this year.

 

[timothyu]

A person might believe his conjecture

Most people unwilling to be open minded and think for themselves, founded their truths on the conjectures of others

 

[childeye 2]

I believe the Las Vegas Raiders are going all the way to the Superbowl this year.

I guess the articulation of the 'revised' question is, "Does anyone on this entire forum think he/she are lying to themselves at this very moment?" Oops, the moment is past.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I guess the articulation of the 'revised' question is, "Does anyone on this entire forum think he/she are lying to themselves at this very moment?" Oops, the moment is past.

Not really. Let's make it simpler here: Does anyone on this forum hold a belief that they know is false?

 

[childeye 2]

Not really. Let's make it simpler here: Does anyone on this forum hold a belief that they know is false?

You may as well ask me if I'm a mind reader. As far as I can see, your question proposes a scenario that is not possible, unless someone is lying to themselves.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

You may as well ask me if I'm a mind reader. As far as I can see, your question proposes a scenario that is not possible, unless someone is lying to themselves.

That is a good answer. Thanks!

 

[Fervent]

If I say yes, would you believe me?

Yes, I do think people must question their beliefs on this forum whenever correction is taking place.

There's a difference between entertaining questions and thinking your beliefs are false. And constantly questioning isn't exactly a productive exercise, since if someone truly engages with it they'll either end up paralyzed and unable to believe anything, or throw up their hands and become a nihliist. Though if they could offer an unproblematic solution to Munchaussen's trilemma, they'd likey win some sort of award, whatever awards there are for philosophy/epistemology.

 

[The Righterzpen]

Here's a question: Does anyone on this entire forum think that what he/she believes is false? Anyone?

Well, there are certainly times I’ve come to the conclusion that something I believed was erroneous.

That has happened on multiple occasions and regarding various subjects. None of us are omniscient and so reason would dictate that there are naturally time we are incorrect on something.

The question becomes do we have to humility to change our minds when truth presents itself?

 

[The Righterzpen]

Belief in something false, however, would seem to me to be an oxymoron.

Well, there are people in certain circumstances who knowing something to be untrue; will pretend it’s true for a variety of reasons. (Think domestic violence situation and the person is afraid to leave so they tell themselves that their abuser loves them.)

Which of course this brings up the problem of cognitive dissonance.

 

[public hermit]

Here's a question: Does anyone on this entire forum think that what he/she believes is false? Anyone?

I don't think it's possible to think that something one believes is true is also (in the same way) something that one believes is false (unless we're talking about a paradox, but even paradoxes are not, strictly speaking, contradictions). There are degrees of belief, but generally something that we believe to be true is not also something we believe to be false. What I do think is both possible and desirable is to think that what we believe is true could be false. We are fallible, and if we've been around long enough, we have learned that some of what we used to believe to be true turned out to be false. It just makes good sense to recognize that we could be wrong about other things that we believe are true. There are exceptions of course, e.g. basic maths, but knowing that we could be wrong is part of intellectual maturity, imo.

 

[timothyu]

Well, there are people in certain circumstances who knowing something to be untrue; will pretend it’s true for a variety of reasons.

That happens in Christianity all the time.

 

[public hermit]

You may as well ask me if I'm a mind reader. As far as I can see, your question proposes a scenario that is not possible, unless someone is lying to themselves.

It's not just a matter of lying to one's self; it's consciously holding a contradiction....as if it's true! That's impossible, I think.

ETA: Maybe we need an example. This one about the future, which makes it more interesting. Let's say someone believes that the Raiders will both win and not win the Superbowl this season. What is the probability anyone here holds a belief like that? Assuming a probability between 1 - 0, I figure it's very close to 0.

 

[Bradskii]

Not really. Let's make it simpler here: Does anyone on this forum hold a belief that they know is false?

I say yes. Many people in the forum will accept a statement as being true, not dependent on any evidence presented, but based purely on who made the statement. And it's easy to confirm that. Simply reword a statement on a political position so that it can't be Googled as to the author and ask who agrees with it. There are many forum members who will not answer until they know who said it.

In other words, they will know that the position is, for example, wrong...but will not just hold to the belief that it is right because of who said it. But will actually convince themselves that it is right.