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Single Idea 23359
[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs
]
Full Idea
It is impossible to assent to an apparent falsehood, or to deny an apparent truth.
Gist of Idea
We can't believe apparent falsehoods, or deny apparent truths
Source
Epictetus (The Discourses [c.56], 3.07.15)
Book Ref
Epictetus: 'The Discourses, The Handbook, Fragments', ed/tr. Gill,C [Everyman 1995], p.165
A Reaction
The way some philosophers write you would think that most beliefs just result from private whims or social fashion. That happens, of course, but most beliefs result from direct contact with reality.
The
15 ideas
with the same theme
[what triggers beliefs]:
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2076
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How can a belief exist if its object doesn't exist?
[Plato]
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23359
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We can't believe apparent falsehoods, or deny apparent truths
[Epictetus]
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20190
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Belief is not an intellectual state or act, because propositions are affirmed or denied by the will
[Descartes, by Zagzebski]
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12574
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When two ideas agree in my mind, I cannot refuse to see and know it
[Locke]
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3661
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'Natural beliefs' are unavoidable, whatever our judgements
[Hume, by Strawson,G]
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2213
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Beliefs are built up by resemblance, contiguity and causation
[Hume]
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20189
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Belief is a feeling, independent of the will, which arises from uncontrolled and unknown causes
[Hume]
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20945
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Belief is no more rational than is tasting and smelling
[Hamann]
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5366
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We have an 'instinctive' belief in the external world, prior to all reflection
[Russell]
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22328
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I just confront the evidence, and let it act on me
[Ramsey]
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12651
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Some beliefs are only inferred when needed, like 'Shakespeare had not telephone'
[Fodor]
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2715
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Beliefs are based on perception, memory, introspection or reason
[Audi,R]
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20191
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Some beliefs are fairly voluntary, and others are not at all so
[Zagzebski]
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6635
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Causal theories of belief make all beliefs true, and can't explain belief about the future
[Lowe]
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4763
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'Evidentialists' say, and 'voluntarists' deny, that we only believe on the basis of evidence
[Engel]
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