(June 13, 2014 at 11:22 pm)topher Wrote: 1. Does it matter to you whether or not your beliefs are true?
2. Do you agree that truth is determined by evidence and observation of facts, and not through any other means?
3. Do you understand that there is no evidence to support the claim that your beliefs are true?
1) No, I don't because I don't believe we have access to absolute truth. I stick with the 'whatever works' philosophy. The hard problem of solipsism has to be ignored until somebody solves it. It won't be me. I can't even figure out how Yaweh knows He's not a brain in a vat.
2) Given the impossibility of 1) I'm only using evidence in a limited sense: that is to figure out 'whatever works.' I'm of the mind that the purpose of the universe is to diminish my suffering to a minimal level. Sometimes it involves using evidence but that's only pragmatism. Granted, I'd be upset (suffering) if I knew others were suffering (damn empathy) so I try to not look.
3) Sure, my beliefs are very probably not true. So? If they reduce my suffering, I'm ok with that.
Why is it that everybody thinks that what they think is true is true? Think?
