Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
Javascript must be enabled to continue!
Does Belief Have an Aim?
View through CrossRef
The hypothesis that belief aims at the truth has been used to explain three features of belief: (1) the fact that correct beliefs are true beliefs; (2) the fact that rational beliefs are supported by the evidence; and (3) the fact that we cannot form beliefs ‘at will’. The chapter argues that the truth-aim hypothesis cannot explain any of these facts. In this respect, believing differs from guessing since the hypothesis that guessing aims at the truth can explain the three analogous features of guessing. It concludes that (unlike guessing) believing does not have an aim, at least in any theoretically interesting sense.
Title: Does Belief Have an Aim?
Description:
The hypothesis that belief aims at the truth has been used to explain three features of belief: (1) the fact that correct beliefs are true beliefs; (2) the fact that rational beliefs are supported by the evidence; and (3) the fact that we cannot form beliefs ‘at will’.
The chapter argues that the truth-aim hypothesis cannot explain any of these facts.
In this respect, believing differs from guessing since the hypothesis that guessing aims at the truth can explain the three analogous features of guessing.
It concludes that (unlike guessing) believing does not have an aim, at least in any theoretically interesting sense.
Related Results
Belief as Emotion
Belief as Emotion
Abstract
Belief as Emotion argues that belief is a type of emotion, where emotions are understood as irreducibly blended states that transcend the cognitive/non-cogn...
Belief, Imagination, and Delusion
Belief, Imagination, and Delusion
Abstract
This volume brings together recent work on the nature of belief, imagination, and delusion. Whilst philosophers of mind and epistemology employ notions of b...
Why Only Evidential Considerations Can Justify Belief
Why Only Evidential Considerations Can Justify Belief
At least when we restrict our attention to the epistemic domain, it seems clear that only considerations which bear on whether p can render a subject’s belief that p epistemically ...
Rationality and Belief
Rationality and Belief
Abstract
This book gives a general theory of rational belief. Although it can be read by itself, it is a sequel to the author’s previous book, The Value of Rationali...
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is explained how the conception of rationality proposed earlier in this book can set the agenda for the study of rational belief and rational choice. Part of the task will be to...
Testimony and Assertion
Testimony and Assertion
Two models of assertion are described and their epistemological implications considered. The assurance model draws a parallel between the ethical norms surrounding speech acts like...
The Miracle Myth
The Miracle Myth
There are many who believe Moses parted the Red Sea and Jesus came back from the dead. Others are certain that exorcisms occur, ghosts haunt attics, and the blessed can cure the te...
Faith: A Very Short Introduction
Faith: A Very Short Introduction
Abstract
What is faith? It usually means religious belief, and sometimes diverse religions are grouped together as faiths, with reference to ‘faith leaders’ or ‘fait...