As I know more of mankind I expect less of them and am ready now to call a man a good man upon easier terms than I was formerly.
Oh Wise Metafilter
I’ve been posting on ask.metafilter.com since Feb 28th, 2005.
I’ve asked 20 questions and have posted 166 answers during that time. There really is no rhyme or reason to the postings. I answer when I feel I have insight and I ask questions when I am either to lazy to try and figure it out myself or just have no earthly clue were to look for the answers.
A few days ago I read a question on that site that delt with the idea Free Will (or our lack there of) and it reminded me of a question that has bugged me since I’ve consciously started contemplating what exactly my beliefs are and how I came to believe them.
Is belief a volunatry action, an involuntary action or a mixture of both?
If you would like to read the question in depth and read the metafites responses here is the direct link. (I’ll also be posting the best responses locally)
Now on a lighter note… if you have time, here are a few of my favorite posts at Ask.Metafilter
Robert said,
November 1, 2006 @ 11:57 pm
Not voluntary but subject to influence from others or from yourself. Think of the belief as the end sum of an equation that includes information, desires/fears, and certain errors of judgment.
I can’t decide to believe that I have no hands as I type this, though I can choose to think it. Belief must conform to evidence (or lack thereof) to a certain degree.
But the possibilities for influence are immense. One thing cognitive psychologists are interested in exploring (as are the soft-core behaviourists) is how behaviour influences belief rather than the other way around. Old quote, I forget by whom: if you want a man to believe in God, first get him to pray; belief will follow. There seems to be some evidence for this. Many of our beliefs appear to be produced by our explanations — to ourselves — for why we do things, when the real reason may internal (biological) or external (conditioning).
You can use the same techniques that others use to affect your beliefs, on yourself, and to a degree, choose your beliefs. I would not call that entirely voluntary so much as manipulating a process.
posted by dreamsign at 7:22 AM PST on November 1 on ask.metafilter.com