Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!uwvax!colby!planting From: planting@colby.WISC.EDU ( W. Harry Plantinga) Newsgroups: sci.philosophy.tech Subject: Re: The nature of knowledge Message-ID: <3991@spool.WISC.EDU> Date: Tue, 28-Jul-87 08:45:39 EDT Article-I.D.: spool.3991 Posted: Tue Jul 28 08:45:39 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jul-87 05:40:56 EDT References: <58@thirdi.UUCP> <2401@ihlpl.ATT.COM> <66@thirdi.UUCP> <1537@botter.cs.vu.nl> <68@thirdi.UUCP> Sender: news@spool.WISC.EDU Reply-To: planting@colby.WISC.EDU ( W. Harry Plantinga) Distribution: world Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept Lines: 33 Keywords: truth knowledge belief absolutes certainty In article <68@thirdi.UUCP> sarge@thirdi.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode) writes: >I'm not sure that belief is really always a matter of choice. Certainly, one >can inculcate belief in oneself by various means . . . >Christians have, of course, been highly motivated to believe in the divinity >of Christ, as Pascal was, since believing is viewed as the route to personal >salvation. And they have therefore sometimes been led to extraordinary >measures to create belief in themselves (and in others). Even in this case I don't think one is generally able to "decide" to believe something. I believe in God, and if I am honest with myself, I have no choice in the matter--I *know* that he exists and to believe otherwise would be like trying to believe that my parents don't exist. Now, one can be more or less open to a certain belief, and one can alter ones disposition toward certain beliefs. For example, I can decide (after considering the evidence) that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Then upon seeing someone who looks exactly like Santa Claus (which would normally be enough to convince me that he does exist) I figure he must be an imposter. Also, because I am a democrat (or republican) and I want to be like other democrats (republicans) I might be predisposed to believe that a defense buildup is a bad thing (good thing) and refuse to consider the evidence (refuse to consider the evidence) for fear that my beliefs might be changed . . . But one can't say "I want to believe in santa claus" and start believing. --------------- Harry Plantinga planting@cs.wisc.edu {seismo,allegra,inhp4,heurikon}!speedy!planting (608) 233-1386