Do you have any beliefs?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Do you have any beliefs?

That's beliefs as opposed to knowledge.

[Maeght]

Define belief please.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Define belief please.

Something held to be true or more true than not but which is not actually demonstrated?

[Maeght]

Thanks - well everyone thinks that somethings are most likely to be true without actually experiencing them themselves based on evidence presented by others, so can I ask what you mean by demonstrated? Does that count?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Thanks - well everyone thinks that somethings are most likely to be true without actually experiencing them themselves based on evidence presented by others, so can I ask what you mean by demonstrated? Does that count?

Interesting. How does a belief in the multiverse fit into the above schema since you can't demonstrate a multiverse?

What then would be the reasons to believe in, say, a multiverse when one cannot be demonstrated?

[jeremyp]

Something held to be true or more true than not but which is not actually demonstrated?

Would you consider my opinion that England will not win the European Football Championship to be a belief? If so, then yes, I have loads of beliefs.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Would you consider my opinion that England will not win the European Football Championship to be a belief? If so, then yes, I have loads of beliefs.

yes I'd probably put that down to belief in the comparative shitness of England's football team.

[SusanDoris]

I do not have any beliefs which require 100% faith only. I have a few hopes and wishes about things I know cannot be fulfilled but I find it easy to sort them into (a) those which could be subjected to the scientific method and which also come under 'don't know yet' and (b) those which are impossible; i.e. with such a vanishingly small possibility of being verified that they can be disregarded, especially at my age!

[Nearly Sane]

I do not have any beliefs which require 100% faith only. I have a few hopes and wishes about things I know cannot be fulfilled but I find it easy to sort them into (a) those which could be subjected to the scientific method and which also come under 'don't know yet' and (b) those which are impossible; i.e. with such a vanishingly small possibility of being verified that they can be disregarded, especially at my age!

where do your beliefs about what is right and wrong fit into those two categories?

[Rhiannon]

Isn't everything a belief?

[Maeght]

Interesting. How does a belief in the multiverse fit into the above schema since you can't demonstrate a multiverse?

What then would be the reasons to believe in, say, a multiverse when one cannot be demonstrated?

I don't believe in a multiverse. I accept that it is a possibility but no more than that.

[SusanDoris]

where do your beliefs about what is right and wrong fit into those two categories?

I do not have to have beliefs on right and wrong because such beliefs, beliefs relying wholy on faith, are entirely subjective. My behaviours and opinions are the current result of millions of years of evolved instinctive, i.e. survival, traits and that includes altruism I think. Our species can very evidently and easily avoid extinction  even if many do not behave in ways which would lead us to that point.

[Nearly Sane]

I do not have to have beliefs on right and wrong because such beliefs, beliefs relying wholy on faith, are entirely subjective. My behaviours and opinions are the current result of millions of years of evolved instinctive, i.e. survival, traits and that includes altruism I think. Our species can very evidently and easily avoid extinction  even if many do not behave in ways which would lead us to that point.

eh? Are you saying you have no beliefs in what you think is right or wrong?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Just to note that, until the author of the OP tells us what he thinks he means by "beliefs" as opposed to "knowledge", any reply is likely to be a free pass to a hall of mirrors of thinking with free candy floss thrown in. 

[Nearly Sane]

Just to note that, until the author of the OP tells us what he thinks he means by "beliefs" as opposed to "knowledge", any reply is likely to be a free pass to a hall of mirrors of thinking with free candy floss thrown in.

. So no one on the thread can have a discussion with anyone else except under the guide of the OP? Really?

[bluehillside Retd.]

NS,

So no one on the thread can have a discussion with anyone else except under the guide of the OP? Really?

As I suspect you knew full well, I meant any reply to the OP. Any other discussion is of course entirely a matter for the participants. 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I don't believe in a multiverse. I accept that it is a possibility but no more than that.

Is that because there is.....as some kind of strange thing might say......no reason to believe in multiverses.

[Nearly Sane]

NS,

As I suspect you knew full well, I meant any reply to the OP. Any other discussion is of course entirely a matter for the participants.

No, I did not know 'full well', why would I given the position and phrasing of your post?

[bluehillside Retd.]

NS,

No, I did not know 'full well', why would I given the position and phrasing of your post?

Because the phrasing made it clear enough. The conjunction of "...the author of the OP tells us what he thinks he means"...with, "...any reply is likely to be..." makes it pretty obvious I'd have thought. If you really don't think so though (really?) here it is again made even plainer:

Just to note that, until the author of the OP tells us what he thinks he means by "beliefs" as opposed to "knowledge", any reply to that OP is likely to be a free pass to a hall of mirrors of thinking with free candy floss thrown in.

[Nearly Sane]

Did you miss 'position' and phrasing?

[Samuel]

Something held to be true or more true than not but which is not actually demonstrated?

I have a belief that I am the greatest man in the world... Oh wait, sorry, that doesn't fit your definition.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I have a belief that I am the greatest man in the world... Oh wait, sorry, that doesn't fit your definition.

Correct it doesn't we Know you are the greatest man in the world.....next.

[Udayana]

Never buy a pig in a poke. That's assuming you need a pig at all.

[jeremyp]

yes I'd probably put that down to belief in the comparative shitness of England's football team.

But it is based on evidence.

[Maeght]

Is that because there is.....as some kind of strange thing might say......no reason to believe in multiverses.

I've not really looked into multiverses so have no particular view on them. Does anyone actually believe in multiverses rather than just thinking they might be possible?