What is the difference between knowing and believing?

Answer 1

confidence

Answer 2

Knowledge is justified, true belief. The "true" part is almost impossible to be sure of, so different disciplines treat this differently. In the natural sciences and history, ideas are accepted to be true if an overwhelming amount of evidence points to it being true. I say "accepted to be true" because we can never be absolutely sure that new evidence won't come in that would necessitate a new theory. In law, they've even defined how much evidence is enough (in some cases, "clear and convincing," in others, "beyond a reasonable doubt"). Mathematics is unique in accepting certain principles ("a = a") as true without proof, and then prove everything else using those axioms.

So if you believe something that's accepted as true, and you believe it for rational reasons, we'll call that "knowing."

If you believe an idea that is false (e.g. "The earth is made of chocolate.") or that is unjustified, even if true, (e.g. "Brad Pitt is wearing an orange shirt today.") that would be merely "believing." Belief in God falls under this because it cannot be fully based on reasoning -- there is an element of faith.

Answer 3

The difference between knowing and believing is that KNOWING comes from learning specific facts that are able to be seen, touched, or otherwise attained. BELIEVING doesn't have to be attainable, it is more internal. It's almost like the difference between an atheist and a Christian *Not that I'm pointing in either direction*, in that one wants certainty with proof and the other is more willing to follow without proof.

Answer 4

This question reminds me of one of Wayne Dyer's talks. I'm a fan of his work. Knowing is something that is with an absolute sense of itself. Belief still has a sense of doubt but it's what is most prevalent of all of your options. If you know something, there is no doubt in your mind about it. If you know you can ride a bike you won't be thinking "I hope I can pull this off again" when you're getting on. No you'll just get on and ride. You know you can ride a bike. Believing something is slightly with doubt. I believe that that is the case, but I am not certain. That's the difference.

Answer 5

The best example of this is religion.

Take "X" Religion (whatever you believe in personally). Let's go with a very common one, Christianity.

Christianity says there is a single God, and Jesus was his only son.
Can anyone actually prove this to a point beyond a shadow of a doubt? - No. So you can't say you "know" it's true.
Can you believe it, no matter what anyone can prove or disprove? - Yes. So you can say you "believe" it's true.

Answer 6

Semantics.

Knowing and believing are both things that we consider to be true. It's common to split hairs over the nuances of a very confusing language like English where the same notion can be expressed in some many ways.

"I know that I live here" and "I believe that I live here" are functionally equivalent in terms of linguistic values and cognition.

Answer 7

Knowing is being informed. Believing is choosing to make that information a part of your life.

Answer 8

Knowing is fact, believing is opinion.

Answer 9

Actually, people "know" things that are often inaccurate and nothing more than opinion, and "believing" can be opinion or faith, according to your creed.

Answer 10

I know things I touch are real.
I believe in ghosts, although I cannot touch them.

Answer 11

We cannot know anything, only believe.