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Single Idea 5366

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

Full Idea

We find a belief in an independent external world ready in ourselves as soon as we begin to reflect: it is what may be called an 'instinctive' belief.

Gist of Idea

We have an 'instinctive' belief in the external world, prior to all reflection

Source

Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 2)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.11

A Reaction

Somewhere Hume calls this a 'natural belief', and it is fairly central to his idea that most of our beliefs are built up fairly mechanically by associations. I am tempted to ask whether such things even count as beliefs, if they are so uncritical.

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]