How is one justified in believing in something?

Question

Evidence? How do you know that? Evidence? Isn’t this circular?

Answer 1

Why does one need to justify believing in something. Some belief is due to faith (and I don't mean religion), some beliefs are due to experience. People have the right to their beliefs justified or not. I do not like when some try to shove their beliefs on me which Christians seem to do quite often because my beliefs differ from theirs.

Answer 2

Evidence is independent of belief, as an activity. Belief in such cases, is just repeatable activities with the same result each time.

Answer 3

I don't see evidence as being circular. If I see two cars crash, I conclude that they crashed. What's circular about that? Or water freezing into ice - lots of things. You can also justify a belief based on logical reasoning, starting from something known to be true.

Answer 4

We start with the beliefs we can't doubt, like the laws of logic, tautologies, mathematical truths, the fact of our own conscious experience, and so forth. We then weigh all the possible realities that are consistent with these truths, and go with what's most probable. Most of our beliefs are based on inductive reasoning. If we continue to observe day and night every 24 hours, the cycle will probably continue. Why? How do we justify inductive reasoning?

If the universe was not governed by laws and consistent behaviour, we should observe maximum entropy and pure chaos from the beginning (of course we wouldn't exist in such a universe in the first place). It is possible that out of pure randomness, the universe could behave "as if" it was governed by laws, but the probability of this occurring for billions of years and then stopping is infinitesimally small.

We are constantly proving to ourselves that our beliefs are valid, because they are justified by observation. The theories we use in science allow planes to fly, give us internet access, and take us to the moon. We can predict the positions of the planets years in advance, and the weather days in advance. Aren't we using observation to justify observation? Ultimately yes, but only through theories based upon realism: a belief in a reality independent of observation, to explain the consistency and predictability of observation.

And yes, the universe could be a simulation (I don't believe it is, but this is another question altogether), but our scientific theories would still be true insofar as they provide accurate predictions, and describe the properties of objects in relation to other objects, whatever those objects actually "are". And there would still have to be a mind-independent reality to produce the simulation in the first place. It can't be simulations all the way down.

Answer 5

You can believe in anything you like, it only requires faith. Once you have robust and repeatable evidence as justification you don't have belief, you have knowledge.

I believe in knowledge
;)

Answer 6

There are different type of people all over the world. Some people don't accept anything until they experience in their own lives. As a well-wisher you can tell how a belief works but you can't insist anyone. They may think that you are a psychopath or insane but one day or other they will understand. I know beliefs make wonders and I know how it works. Your spirits work according to your beliefs.

Human beings are ruled by spirits. Spirits possess people according to the mental state of the human beings and keep them in the same state until they are rejected and replaced by another. This is an all time phenomena occurring in all humans. Human beings are always under the influence of spirits. Certain situations and circumstances causes the possession of certain type of spirits. Often thinking and talking about bad subjects or bad imaginations even for fun can take serious turns on one who think and talk. In the same way your good thoughts, talks and deeds bring good spirits by your side and make many good things possible. All spirits (good and bad) have the dominating character. They can take you to the extent of sacrifice or suicide.

All of your activities, talks and even thoughts determine what kind of spirits you will have for your life. Only these spirits are the reason for the good and bad happening in your life. Generally spirits determine your destiny from your daily activities, talks and thoughts too. All knowledge, skills, emotions, feelings, interests and everything are spirits. Even thoughts are not your own. For example, when you want to take a decision on a subject, one after another they think and you just listen and choose or reject the ideas which they transmit to your mind through your brain in the form of thoughts. A human being during his/her lifetime is living with many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. All human beings are just unprogrammed robots made of flesh, bones, tissues etc., by birth and toys of the spirits for their games.

Answer 7

Evidence is independent of belief, as an activity. Belief in such cases, is just repeatable activities with the same result each time.

Answer 8

You are right. two persons are required to justify in believing something.

Whatever it is, first of all one should explore and know what is that SOMETHING about which you are now seriously concerned.

.

Answer 9

It is a belief to tell yourself that you don’t believe anything, so it is basically impossible to not believe SOMETHING, how do you require every human on earth to base their necessary beliefs on any sort of a single standard. If you can believe what you want, why can’t I?

Answer 10

academic philosophy is