Single Idea 6600

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs]

Full Idea

The belief that fire will burn me is of the same kind as the fear that it will burn me.

Gist of Idea

The belief that fire burns is like the fear that it burns

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §473)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.134


A Reaction

Most of our beliefs are forced on us, rather than chosen, and this nice remark gives an indication of the reason. It dovetails with Peirce's pragmatic approach to be belief (e.g. Idea 6598), which is well developed by Robert Fogelin.

Related Idea

Idea 6598 We need our beliefs to be determined by some external inhuman permanency [Peirce]