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Full Idea
Direct psychological voluntarism about beliefs seems to be false, but we can have an indirect voluntary control on many of our beliefs, by manipulating the states in us that are involuntary and which lead to certain beliefs.
Gist of Idea
We cannot directly control our beliefs, but we can control the causes of our involuntary beliefs
Source
Pascal Engel (Truth [2002], §5.2)
Book Ref
Engel,Pascal: 'Truth' [Acumen 2002], p.134
A Reaction
Very nice! This points two ways - to scientific experiments, which can have compelling outcomes (see Fodor), and to brain-washing, and especially auto-brainwashing (only reading articles which support your favourites theories). What magazines do you take?
| 3271 | We can't control our own beliefs [Nagel] |
| 2462 | Control of belief is possible if you know truth conditions and what causes beliefs [Fodor] |
| 3566 | We control our beliefs by virtue of how we enquire [Williams,M] |
| 4764 | We cannot directly control our beliefs, but we can control the causes of our involuntary beliefs [Engel] |
| 8847 | Beliefs are not chosen, but you can seek ways to influence your belief [Pryor] |