2006-09-14 14:46:53 · 19 answers · asked by gotalife 7 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
(Falco steps up to bat for the Rationalists)
As a journalist, the key difference between what you can call news and what's opinion is that in news, you say what you see, or know, whereas in opinion, you say what you believe, or think.
If I hold a rock in my hand, for me there's no getting around the fact that it's what I've learned to identify as a rock. So I say "Here's a rock," rather than "Here's a bowlful of potato salad," because to the best of my knowledge, it's not a bowlful of potato salad, it's a rock. At that point I implicitly believe no more or no less about it than that, but it's enough for me to know and recognise this thing, without necessarily believing in it.
The point, essentially, is that we see things through a framework of recognition, and this defines what we know. We know pretty much only what we can conceive and name. What we believe is not bound by such pedestrian science, but to believe a thing is not to make it true, whereas to the best of my knowledge, a rock is still a rock, whether we believe it's a rock or not (with obvious apologies to any quantum theorists in the audience). So I pick my way from rock to rock, from one fact or article of knowledge to another. Any beliefs I may have remain inherent in my observation of the world, but I would never let them get in the way of the facts at hand. So, ultimately, what I know is more important to me, because I don't pretend to have worked out the universe yet, and so know that whatever I believe could still be utterly wrong.
A rock would still be a rock though, whether I'm wrong or right.
2006-09-14 22:42:09 · answer #1 · answered by mdfalco71 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both. Because......................if you believe in nothing then you know nothing if you didn't believe the world was round you wouldn't KNOW. You'd always wonder. On the other hand if you knew nothing then you'd believe in nothing.
Of course you might have meant believe as in what one believes about life and religion that sort of thing as opposed to what one knows like the sky is blue. In that case I'd have to say knowing is more important for the simple fact that none of us know our beliefs are right. We may FEEEL they are but won't know until we're gone if even then. I like to keep an open mind and if what I believe I know is more important that be like saying I couldn't be wrong. Think of the let down if I died tomorrow and learned we're all wrong and dying is really just waking up and all a dream. :P
2006-09-14 22:16:13 · answer #2 · answered by smd945 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not to get existential, but what precisely is the difference between what you "know" and what you "believe"? I ask because we can never really "know" anything, right?
If you mean the terms in the coloquial way of I know what I am pretty sure about, but I believe in things that I'm not pretty sure about, then how could anyone put any more importance on what they believe?
If you mean know in the sense of things that could be proven by the senses, but believe in the sense of things that can't necessarily be proven by the senses/spiritual things, then the question makes the most sense (since under those definitions there could be an area to debate). Then it's science versus faith.
The answer to that question (for myself, of course) is that I put much more importance on what I know because if God truly helps those who help themselves then you have to arm yourself with knowledge and move ahead based on the facts. This is not to say that beliefs cannot be comforting, especially in times of distress, but they do not shape my decision making.
2006-09-15 02:13:11 · answer #3 · answered by deadwoodfan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My belief in God is the most important thing in my life because without Him all the knowledge in the world would have no meaning in the overall scheme of things. I thank God for the things I know to be true, either because He has revealed it to me through faith in His Word or through His dealing with me as I seek to be closer to Him. He has given me the intelligence to learn many things and I am challenged every day to use those things I've learned to serve the needs of my fellow human beings as a teacher, counselor and health care provider.
2006-09-14 22:02:17 · answer #4 · answered by missingora 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I try to limit what I believe to what I know. I use my belief as a starting point when I set out to learn something. Frequently my beliefs end up being partially or completely wrong.
So in the end I guess what I know.
2006-09-14 22:00:10 · answer #5 · answered by icetender 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know what I believe.
I believe what I know.
Either of those could
have changed by the time
this answer gets posted.
Never let the facts get in the way
of a good story.
2006-09-14 22:03:07 · answer #6 · answered by ohio healer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me I would give more importance to what I believe then to more of what I know!! Becasue to me, what you believe in is what you will know in life!!
2006-09-14 21:55:37 · answer #7 · answered by Vy-Vy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I stick to my guns on both those issues. BUT I do respect others opinions and believes as well... Yes I know, I'm a rare find
2006-09-14 21:52:18 · answer #8 · answered by iluvafrica 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a very interesting question....I'm convinced 150% of what I believe, which sometimes is at odds with what I know, which I sometimes question....strange as that may sound. Now I'm confused....I don't know what to think.
2006-09-14 21:53:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What you know is what you believe, but I don't believe everything I think. I've been wrong before.
2006-09-14 21:50:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋