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Single Idea 20189
[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs
]
Full Idea
Belief consists merely in a certain feeling or sentiment; in something, that depends not on the will, but must arise from certain determinate causes and principles, of which we are not master.
Gist of Idea
Belief is a feeling, independent of the will, which arises from uncontrolled and unknown causes
Source
David Hume (Treatise of Human Nature, + Appendix [1740], Appen p.2)
Book Ref
Hume,David: 'A Treatise of Human Nature', ed/tr. Selby-Bigge/Nidditch [OUP 1978], p.624
A Reaction
This is the opposite of Descartes' 'doxastic voluntarism' (i.e. we choose what to believe). If you want to become a Christian, steep yourself in religious literature, and the company of religious people. It will probably work.
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]
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