more from Jerry A. Fodor

Single Idea 2462

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 5. Controlling Beliefs]

Full Idea

Premeditated cognitive management is possible if knowing the contents of one's thoughts would tell you what would make them true and what would cause you to have them.

Gist of Idea

Control of belief is possible if you know truth conditions and what causes beliefs

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (The Elm and the Expert [1993], §4)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'The Elm and the Expert' [MIT 1995], p.101


A Reaction

I love the idea of 'cognitive management'. Since belief is fairly involuntary, I subject myself to the newspapers, books, TV and conversation which will create the style of beliefs to which I aspire. Why?