🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <68@thirdi.UUCP> sarge@thirdi.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode) writes:

>I'm not sure that belief is really always a matter of choice.  Certainly, one
>can inculcate belief in oneself by various means . . .
>Christians have, of course, been highly motivated to believe in the divinity
>of Christ, as Pascal was, since believing is viewed as the route to personal
>salvation.  And they have therefore sometimes been led to extraordinary
>measures to create belief in themselves (and in others).  

Even in this case I don't think one is generally able to "decide" to
believe something.  I believe in God, and if I am honest with myself,
I have no choice in the matter--I *know* that he exists and to believe 
otherwise would be like trying to believe that my parents don't exist.

Now, one can be more or less open to a certain belief, and one can
alter ones disposition toward certain beliefs.  For example, I can
decide (after considering the evidence) that Santa Claus doesn't
exist.  Then upon seeing someone who looks exactly like Santa Claus
(which would normally be enough to convince me that he does exist) I
figure he must be an imposter.  Also, because I am a democrat (or
republican) and I want to be like other democrats (republicans) I
might be predisposed to believe that a defense buildup is a bad thing
(good thing) and refuse to consider the evidence (refuse to consider
the evidence) for fear that my beliefs might be changed . . .

But one can't say "I want to believe in santa claus" and start
believing.

---------------
Harry Plantinga
planting@cs.wisc.edu
{seismo,allegra,inhp4,heurikon}!speedy!planting
(608) 233-1386