FreeThinkers Discussion Belief vs. Skepticism Presented March 22, 2016

Belief vs. Skepticism What is belief? A degree of conviction that a proposition is true. Essentially, it’s a feeling of certainty. That feeling unconsciously associates a weight. Belief is justified psychologically, emotionally. Humans are pre-wired to believe, with a strong emotional need to be right.

Belief vs. Skepticism What is knowledge? Awareness of a true proposition. A proposition is true if it can be verified as fact. Types of verification: –Self-evident apprehension of fact –Corroborative evidence of fact –Consistent within a theoretical framework –Predictive, repeatable, testable –Authoritative pronouncements Knowledge is always personal, subjective, & contextual. Knowledge is belief that happens to be true – that is consistent within a wider, verifiable framework.

Belief vs. Skepticism Knowledge vs. Belief: The circularity of these two concepts –Belief is the confidence that one is right –Knowledge is belief that is “actionable” –However, if one believes without doubt, one claims “to know” regardless of actionability. Question: Is there anything we can know with absolute certainty?

Belief vs. Skepticism Belief is never value-free: We are pre-wired to strongly desire to be right. People argue all the time over trivial facts. The desire to be right increases in intensity with the significance of the belief relative to moral behavior. Can knowledge exist without emotion? Can knowledge exist without consciousness? Question: Is there such thing as objective knowledge?

Belief vs. Skepticism “Belief is believing a believer.” -- Mark K. Beliefs are self-reinforcing. Beliefs are tinged (or saturated) with righteousness. “Core beliefs” can merge with personal identity. Are we mentally free to choose beliefs? How free are we to change our beliefs? How much control do we really have over our core beliefs and our ability to change them? Are beliefs essentially the spawn of the unconscious? Are beliefs self-perpetuating?

Belief vs. Skepticism Enter skepticism – the great Usurper: Regular beliefs usually have an element of doubt. Core beliefs can be absolute and doubtless. –Absolute beliefs are “belief in belief”. –Absolute beliefs are an endless feedback loop. –Is there a trick to interrupting the feedback loop? Belief in skepticism: –Skepticism is more than just simple doubt. –Skepticism is a core belief that no beliefs are absolute. –Humanity is divided into two fundamental types of intellect: those who believe in absolutes and those who don’t. –The true Believers vs. the true Skeptics

Belief vs. Skepticism Skepticism as a Core Belief: Anything and everything can & should be questioned. Obviously, it’s a challenge to others’ beliefs. More importantly, skepticism is a tool for the conscious mind to challenge, overcome, and even change its own unconsciously-constructed beliefs! As a core belief, skepticism is its own belief system. As a core belief, it is its own loop-ending mechanism.

Belief vs. Skepticism Obvious targets for skepticism: A personal god, dogmatic texts, religious fundamentalism, the occult, political histrionics, fear-mongering, bigotry, stereotypes, racial supremacy, etc. Less obvious targets: The scientific establishment, human rights, liberalism, philosophical materialism, consensus morality, consciousness as an emergent phenomenon, the belief that the scientific method is the only source for knowledge, and more.

Belief vs. Skepticism Some (more or less) relevant References: “The Righteous Mind – Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion” by Jonathan HaidtThe Righteous Mind “Doubt: A History” by Jennifer Michael HechtDoubt: A History Secular Buddhism (example of atheist spirituality)Secular Buddhism Anthropic Trilogy by Ed Fischer (another example of atheist spirituality) also (Ed is one of our members)Anthropic Trilogy Belief – WikipediaBelief Skepticism – WikipediaSkepticism Gettier Problem – WikipediaGettier Problem The Atlantic – “Science Faith Is Different from Religious Faith” by Paul Bloom, Nov 24, 2015The Atlantic The core Intelligent Design position – FYI, Uncommon Descent, Nov 4, 2014The core Intelligent Design position