What is a belief? How do we believe someone or in something? How does it happen?

Question

I am talking about intuitive belief. Yes there is logic involved as well, for instance if you believe in something proved by scientific experiments or based on first-hand experience. But apart from that there are instances where we just believe in things that we haven't even experienced first-hand such as we believe in things someone says to us. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Research the concept of "Initial Plausibility".

For instance: If I told you that pine trees grew in Antarctica would you believe me? Probably not. I am also going to assume that you have never been to, and therefore never experienced Antarctica's environment. You have thus accepted a belief, based on prior knowledge of what kind of environment Antarctica has and therefore conclude that there are no pine trees that grow in Antarctica; but you are not a ecologist nor have you experienced Antarctica--Yet you believe that no pine trees grow in Antarctica. Why?

Research "initial plausibility".

Answer 2

So John tells me that it will rain tomorrow and I believe it. How does that happen? I suppose, based on past experience of John being right, I assume that he is right this time. If John is wrong frequently, I will not believe it.

I hope that helps, unless you want the actual order of synapse firing that accompanies a belief, b/c I can't help you there.

Answer 3

belief is like the term love what are either? beliefs are an intrecnched set of, usually shared commonalities that emerge socially as common belief system

Answer 4

We believe because we want to achieve something in return.That something is very important for us so we believe and if we have a
very strong belief it turns out to faith.