Suppose we have a two-valued situation - either a thing is or it isn't. If I believe in it and you don't, and I don't understand why you don't believe, then I don't really understand the question. Perhaps, if I did understand, I'd agree with you.
The reverse is also true - if I don't believe and I don't understand why you do, then again I don't really understand what's going on.
Do you agree or disagree, and on what basis?
And please - I am not intentionally trying to convince anyone of anything. I believe what I said above, and I'm simply curious what other people think. I don't want to read a treatise on why you do or do not believe in any specific thing. I beg you - keep your answers focussed on the question.
2007-10-30 03:17:42 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't think I'd have to add this, but apparently I do. Sometimes the facile answers - "you're just stupid" - are correct, but generally I don't think so. If a large number of people believe something, then "well, they're just stupid" is an astonishingly arrogant thing to believe, and probably completely wrong. I also believe that one should resort to those arguments only when there's overwhelming evidence that that's the case, such as, oh, my refusing to believe that the sun will rise tomorrow, for instance.
2007-10-30 03:27:21 · update #1
Molly - my point is that I'm deliberately avoiding any specifics because I don't want to argue about why, for instance, flying saucers are or are not real. All I'm saying is that, if you take a position, and then say "I don't have any idea why all of you people are taking the opposite position", then you haven't done the necessary detail work to understand what you believe. Understanding the opposite side is not a luxury - it's a necessity, if you're to be intellectually honest.
2007-10-30 03:34:01 · update #2
I agree with you, one can understand why someone has a differing belief, and still hold on to your own, because you think it is better. But it is important to understand where another person is coming from. If you don't understand the other person's perspective, how can you really be confident your belief is better?
2007-10-30 03:26:24 · answer #1 · answered by astrogoodwin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid I don't understand what you're asking. There are different reasons why people believe "something is or isn't". For some people it's because they are satisfied (or not) by the evidence, for others it's because, in spite of a lack of solid evidence, instinctively it feels right, for others it's down to pure emotion - perhaps because they can't bear to believe the alternative.
It may be that in some circumstances, someone doesn't believe something because they don't understand exactly what it is they are being asked to believe but, without specifying exactly what it is you're talking about, I wouldn't care to guess whether this is a significant reason or not.
2007-10-30 10:28:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No of course not. This statement contains so many logical fallacies is not even funny.
To say that a person X does not under Question A because person X does not understand person B reasons for believing in question A - Is too imply that in order to understand question A person X must understand person B reasons for believing in question A.
This commits the genetic fallacy. Not only that but its ridiculous. I disagree because a person can understand a question/proposition without understanding the reasons why somebody believes or disbelieves what the proposition/question either asserts or denies.
2007-10-30 17:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by Future 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very good question.
I believe that understanding someone does NOT mean you have to agree with them. Far too many people are confused as they seem to think that if you understood them, then you would agree. I remember a heated argument with my former girl friend (heated on her side only) where she thought because I said I understood her, she thought that meant I agreed with her.
I had to explain the concept several times. I had to explain her position back to her so she could see I understood her completely. But then I said I did not agree with her. That is when the fireworks went up on her end.
I can agree to disagree. Apparently many people can not.
2007-10-30 14:48:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe quarks have actually been observed, but I have no idea how... I do not believe I am on a shaky ground, I just don't know...
2007-10-30 16:24:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if i understand your question correctly, my opinion is that if you firmly believe what you believe, whether or not i share that belief, and whether or not you understand why i don't believe, should in no way affect your belief, and it certainly shouldn't put you on shaky ground. if you feel uncertain just because you don't know why i don't believe, than you don't believe in it firmly, aka you don't believe
2007-10-30 11:50:57 · answer #6 · answered by SweetPandemonium 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't it take education to have sanity.
2007-10-30 12:21:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋