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Single Idea 12651

[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs ]

Full Idea

Maybe some of your beliefs are inferred 'online' from what you have in your files, along with your inferential rules. 'Shakespeare didn't have a telephone' is a classic example, which we infer if the occasion arises.

Gist of Idea

Some beliefs are only inferred when needed, like 'Shakespeare had not telephone'

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.3 App)

Book Ref

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.97

A Reaction

A highly persuasive example. There seem to be a huge swathe of blatantly obvious beliefs (especially negative ones) which may never cross our minds during an entire lifetime, but to which we certainly subscribe.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [what triggers beliefs]:

2076 How can a belief exist if its object doesn't exist? [Plato]
23359 We can't believe apparent falsehoods, or deny apparent truths [Epictetus]
20190 Belief is not an intellectual state or act, because propositions are affirmed or denied by the will [Descartes, by Zagzebski]
12574 When two ideas agree in my mind, I cannot refuse to see and know it [Locke]
3661 'Natural beliefs' are unavoidable, whatever our judgements [Hume, by Strawson,G]
2213 Beliefs are built up by resemblance, contiguity and causation [Hume]
20189 Belief is a feeling, independent of the will, which arises from uncontrolled and unknown causes [Hume]
20945 Belief is no more rational than is tasting and smelling [Hamann]
5366 We have an 'instinctive' belief in the external world, prior to all reflection [Russell]
22328 I just confront the evidence, and let it act on me [Ramsey]
12651 Some beliefs are only inferred when needed, like 'Shakespeare had not telephone' [Fodor]
2715 Beliefs are based on perception, memory, introspection or reason [Audi,R]
20191 Some beliefs are fairly voluntary, and others are not at all so [Zagzebski]
6635 Causal theories of belief make all beliefs true, and can't explain belief about the future [Lowe]
4763 'Evidentialists' say, and 'voluntarists' deny, that we only believe on the basis of evidence [Engel]