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Single Idea 8806

[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / b. Elements of beliefs ]

Full Idea

Knowing what a belief is brings with it the concept of objective truth, for the notion of a belief is the notion of a state that may or may not jibe with reality.

Gist of Idea

The concepts of belief and truth are linked, since beliefs are meant to fit reality

Source

Donald Davidson (Coherence Theory of Truth and Knowledge [1983], p.162)

Book Ref

'Epistemology - An Anthology', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Kim,J. [Blackwell 2000], p.162


A Reaction

I find any discussion of belief that makes no reference to truth (as in Hume) quite puzzling. I can understand it when a belief is just triggered by a sensation ('this is hot'), but not when a belief arrives after careful comparison of reasons.


The 10 ideas with the same theme [the components that make up beliefs]:

Two sorts of opinion: either poorly grounded belief, or weak belief [Stoic school, by Stobaeus]
Belief can't be a concept plus an idea, or we could add the idea to fictions [Hume]
Belief is just a particular feeling attached to ideas of objects [Hume]
We are aware of beliefs, they appease our doubts, and they are rules of action, or habits [Peirce]
The three questions about belief are its contents, its success, and its character [Russell]
Belief relates a mind to several things other than itself [Russell]
The concepts of belief and truth are linked, since beliefs are meant to fit reality [Davidson]
Indexicals are a problem for beliefs being just subject-proposition relations [Perry]
Beliefs are states of the head that explain behaviour, and also items with referential truth-conditions [McGinn]
Having beliefs involves recognition, expectation and surprise [Scruton]