Is the logical rationality of a belief system necessarily linked with its realism?

Answer 1

Good god, it's an intelligent question. Astonishing.

The answer is "no". Any system of beliefs can be made internally consistent by certain adjustments to the places where it connects with observation. W.V.O. Quine wrote about this in his famous "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" paper. No set of observations can definitively undermine a belief system.

In layman's terms, everything makes sense. We can make sense of anything at all, which should be obvious if you spend just a little time on the internet. You can also accommodate any set of facts into your belief system, whether that belief system is true or false. The relationship between evidence and truth of a belief system is far more complex than most people think that it is.

Answer 2

No. The logical rationality of the human mind is limited therefore its realism is limited.

A belief system originating from a superior mind could supersede the bounds of the limited human mind and thus appear illogical.

This is precisely the stumblingblock for many with belief in God.

Neglect to acknowledge as incomplete and imperfect the comprehensive ability of the human mind with respect to the investigation of God.

Pride acts as an inhibitor and even an effective barrier preventing the ability to conceive of an intellect of infinitely superior ability and capacity.

Show N Tell

Answer 3

So you're saying, that the more real a Religion seems to you, it would be the most Logical Choice? I don't know about that. Lots of people have beliefs that can't really be seen as factually logical, yet seem real enough for them to join. Scientology, the hot "IT " religion of hollywood stars, stresses alien beings in its higher levels. The Catholic Church? That the wafer you are eating is the actual flesh of Jesus. I don't think people think these things are neccessarily real, but they still believe. This is where faith comes in, the hope that what you are doing is the right thing, based on what you believe.

Answer 4

Paul S is right.

If "realism" is to be taken as a mind-independent reality, the answer is no. One can have a number of logically consistent belief systems that do not corrospond with what we take as common sense reality (or the corrospondance theory of truth). Solipsism is one example.

[edit] To Frugernity: A sound argument is by definition one with true premises. You must mean religious people can make "valid" arguments with false "unproveable" assumptions (whatever that means).

Answer 5

No. What is realism? Reality is based on perception. Your belief is not the same as others...hence the numerous religions of the world. Therefore, what one person calls realism..is another persons falsehood. It's all about perception.

Answer 6

I was going to say no but after thinking about it I say yes it is. The bible makes no sense, there is no logic or rationality to it. That makes the realism false as well.

Answer 7

One would think so. However, many belief systems were founded in antiquity and have not updated to a modern rationality.
Strangely, other more modern beliefs have tried to emulate the "ancientness" of preceding ones.

Answer 8

I would say (off the top of my head) yes. If we are talking abour rationality, realism should be a big component.

Answer 9

Not if idealism is correct. There have been many examples of rational, idealistic metaphysical systems. Neoplatonism and Advaita Vedanta come to mind.

Answer 10

Not really but if you hold that view then it must be applied to all belief systems including the belief system of the Atheists