Beliefs are important, beliefs are what gets us through life somewhat mentally sane.
Beliefs are (for example) the cornerstone of relationships, because you have to believe that your partner really loves you. There is no hard evidence for that so it can never be a fact, only a belief.
I believe that my neighbors don’t plan to kill me in my sleep (why should they, I am a nice and easy neighbor), I believe that the person at the fast food corner doesn’t spit on my food (and that they had washed hands after using the toilet), I believe that my landlord will some day repair the water damage in my second bathroom (and put all the bathroom stuff like sink, shower and toilet back in).
One could say that belief is behind everything where “trust” is involved.
Belief is just accepting something as true, either because it is something that is a concept without hard facts (love, religion, justice, freedom, money, “the good in people”) or it is something where the information are lacking either because they are not fully known yet or because it is such a complex topic that having all information is (nearly) impossible.
I believe for example that climate change is real, because I trust (there it is again) the science. I have to believe in this case because I can’t have all the information without studying climate sciences, and one can argument that even our best climate scientists doesn’t have all the information (models are still incomplete and simulations don’t use all possible parameters) so even they have to believe for some parts.
Beliefs become problematic when people take them as hard facts, as dogmas, and become extreme.
I believe that taking extreme positions is always wrong and a way to disaster and suffering.
That’s one reason why I don’t like faith and are against cults of any kinds.
The part with the neighbors was more or less only a joke.
If i believe anything about them, then that they are good, honest and peacefull people.
Because so far nothing happend to make be think otherwise.
The belief that the neighbors will kill someone (oneself for example) sounds more like a delusion… or a really bad neighborhood!
In both cases is a counter belief maybe not the best solution
But yes, i do think that beliefs can be helpful to counter inner urges and impulses.
The belief in laws and punishment by law is an example for it.
And shared beliefs (for example faith and religion) acts like a glue for societies. The belief in eternal judgment by an all knowing god in combination with a holy law book (that is what most holy texts in their core are IMHO) helps to prevent chaos and ensures that people can work against a common and shared goal. As an example for the good and positive side of that.
My point is the specific utility of beliefs. You seemed to be offering an interesting one.
Imagine a landscape made of beliefs. In it you are always standing on some bunch of beliefs. So choosing and navigating is going to be important. To get to the good beliefs and avoid the bad ones.
Beliefs are important, beliefs are what gets us through life somewhat mentally sane.
Beliefs are (for example) the cornerstone of relationships, because you have to believe that your partner really loves you. There is no hard evidence for that so it can never be a fact, only a belief.
I believe that my neighbors don’t plan to kill me in my sleep (why should they, I am a nice and easy neighbor), I believe that the person at the fast food corner doesn’t spit on my food (and that they had washed hands after using the toilet), I believe that my landlord will some day repair the water damage in my second bathroom (and put all the bathroom stuff like sink, shower and toilet back in).
One could say that belief is behind everything where “trust” is involved. Belief is just accepting something as true, either because it is something that is a concept without hard facts (love, religion, justice, freedom, money, “the good in people”) or it is something where the information are lacking either because they are not fully known yet or because it is such a complex topic that having all information is (nearly) impossible.
I believe for example that climate change is real, because I trust (there it is again) the science. I have to believe in this case because I can’t have all the information without studying climate sciences, and one can argument that even our best climate scientists doesn’t have all the information (models are still incomplete and simulations don’t use all possible parameters) so even they have to believe for some parts.
Beliefs become problematic when people take them as hard facts, as dogmas, and become extreme.
I believe that taking extreme positions is always wrong and a way to disaster and suffering. That’s one reason why I don’t like faith and are against cults of any kinds.
Are you saying that beliefs are useful (necessary even) for navigating other beliefs?
For example, I believe that my neighbors wont kill me. I do that to stave off the belief that my neighbors will kill me.
The part with the neighbors was more or less only a joke. If i believe anything about them, then that they are good, honest and peacefull people. Because so far nothing happend to make be think otherwise.
The belief that the neighbors will kill someone (oneself for example) sounds more like a delusion… or a really bad neighborhood!
In both cases is a counter belief maybe not the best solution
But yes, i do think that beliefs can be helpful to counter inner urges and impulses. The belief in laws and punishment by law is an example for it.
And shared beliefs (for example faith and religion) acts like a glue for societies. The belief in eternal judgment by an all knowing god in combination with a holy law book (that is what most holy texts in their core are IMHO) helps to prevent chaos and ensures that people can work against a common and shared goal. As an example for the good and positive side of that.
It was just an example.
My point is the specific utility of beliefs. You seemed to be offering an interesting one.
Imagine a landscape made of beliefs. In it you are always standing on some bunch of beliefs. So choosing and navigating is going to be important. To get to the good beliefs and avoid the bad ones.