tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post7319074235609115745..comments2024-01-28T08:54:32.914-06:00Comments on That's interesting...: Please, tell me I'm wrongBill Garthrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08552459555883204060noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-49607716139675639702015-04-25T12:06:53.276-05:002015-04-25T12:06:53.276-05:00"You say that you apportion your belief accor...<i>"You say that you apportion your belief according to the evidence."</i><br /><br />Well, it's more precise to say that I <i>try</i>. In a few short sentences to introduce this blog, it's hard to go into detail.<br /><br />I do go into more detail in this post, Anonymous, and you'll note I say "I <i>generally</i> think that I have good reasons for my beliefs," and "I <i>try</i> to be evidence-based." [emphasis added]<br /><br />And it works - maybe not always, but we <i>are</i> "capable of defeating the belief mechanism that is built into us." Scientists do it all the time - maybe not all of them, but most, and maybe not easily, but it does happen.<br /><br />That's how they come to a consensus about what's real and what isn't. And that's how new discoveries can be built on a secure foundation of reality.<br /><br /><i>"The more interesting question is "why". The answer is that belief protects us from knowing things that will make us emotionally unstable."</i><br /><br />Do you have any evidence of that? I'm trying to imagine something I could know that would make me emotionally unstable, just for the knowing of it. It's hard to believe, just on an off-hand claim. Do you have an example?<br /><br />PS. I see I'll have to edit this post, anyway, just a bit, because I've changed my mind since I wrote it - not hugely, and nothing to do with this particular issue, but still significantly.<br />Bill Garthrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08552459555883204060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-46089713084623634122015-04-24T08:08:47.442-05:002015-04-24T08:08:47.442-05:00you say that you apportion your belief according t...you say that you apportion your belief according to the evidence. The evidence shows that humans don't do that . Sensible people try, but humans just aren't capable of defeating the belief mechanism that is built into us. We believe what we know, and disbelieve anything that contradicts what we know. Reality bites us in the ass sometimes, and we are forced to change our beliefs. The more interesting question is "why". The answer is that belief protects us from knowing things that will make us emotionally unstable. And we need emotions, because it is impossible to know everything, but any idiot can have a feeling about anything. As ridiculous as are construction sounds, it works.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-68269051323410231892013-03-19T02:26:42.459-05:002013-03-19T02:26:42.459-05:00I also disagree -- but for different reasons.I also disagree -- but for different reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-26889650326852179962012-10-28T19:13:14.398-05:002012-10-28T19:13:14.398-05:00I, too, disagree. Not just with Garthright, but wi...I, too, disagree. Not just with Garthright, but with all of you as well, and I highly disagree with your disagreeing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-1927049699296462722012-02-11T00:07:35.384-06:002012-02-11T00:07:35.384-06:00Guess we all have to agree to disagree then!Guess we all have to agree to disagree then!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-5781099344299582752012-02-10T22:47:31.838-06:002012-02-10T22:47:31.838-06:00I have to disagree with both of you. But then, I&#...I have to disagree with both of you. But then, I'm pretty disagreeable. My wife will agree to that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379287241318002122.post-37051716540368106112012-02-10T17:06:53.530-06:002012-02-10T17:06:53.530-06:00I'm going to have to disagree with you and say...I'm going to have to disagree with you and say I agree with you too much to disagree with you.Jim Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953679196185650753noreply@blogger.com