It’s been pointed out to me that last week, I failed entirely to actually clarify what I thought the difference was between beliefs and assumptions. So this week, I’m backing up a little to define my terms.
Like I should have done in the first place. I don’t have a good general term for these, but the way I see it, there are five different ways to approach the problem of what and how to believe. Five different ways in which one can choose to see a particular thought.
The five ways are Beliefs, Ideals, Opinions, Assumptions and Constrained Beliefs,
Beliefs, to me, are absolute and uncritical acceptance of a particular piece of dogma. A sacred cow. Most people would class their religious feelings in this category. and a bunch more besides. Basic concepts of this world such as up and down are beliefs.
Ideals, on the other hand, are the things we do not believe are true, but wish were. A belief in the essential dignity or nobility of the human animal is an ideal.
Opinions are the kinds of beliefs that we admit to ourselves are purely subjective – the average sporting team follower’s belief that their team in the best (regardless of the actual facts) is an opinion (because of the facts).
Assumptions are pretty much as I described them last week – a conscious choice to act as if a belief, ideal or opinion is true despite the unverifiability of the matter.
Constrained Beliefs are beliefs that function within the constraints imposed by larger assumptions. Anytime someone qualifies a statement by adding “for a given value of”, you’re in Constrained Belief territory. Up is up and down in down – but only within a specified gravitational field. People are essentially noble – under certain circumstances. And so on.
Sorry, I’d write more,but I’m buggered.
See you next Wednesday.
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