Quote:
Originally Posted by bodi  I don't like beliefs. I always challenge others beliefs, even if I happen to agree with them, and I try to stamp out any i find in myself.
I like models and ideas.
I think a true key to understanding is the riddance of belief, and the fostering of models and ideas.
Beliefs are fixed. Models and ideas are flexible.
Once you have a belief, its very difficult to change or get rid of. So, if do you happen to be wrong, its very likely you will continue to be wrong, and will reject information to the contrary by closing off to it. If an M&I becomes outdated or offtrack, it easy to change or simply discard.
Belief is based on emotional reasoning and wishful thinking to an unhealthy degree over rationality.
Models and ideas come from imagination and experience.
Beliefs are static. Models and ideas evolve.
Beliefs are not to be questioned. M&I can only work if they are questioned.
Beliefs, models and ideas are not to be confused with knowledge, which is the 'stuff' that they work with..
What do you think? |
The brain works in a certain way, whether you like it or not. You can change your beliefs, but you cannot change the way your brain works.
Beliefs are formed, whether you like them or not. Once you have certain ideas, it is not up to you not to turn the ideas into beliefs, as that is how the brain works.
So I think it makes no point to theorise "beliefs, ideas and models". Our brains tend to make things far more complicated than they really are. Different people response to those words differently, and it will take very considerable efforts just to define what "belief", "idea" and "model" are in the first place. Einstein said: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler".
But I guess I can understand where you come from. A lot of our beliefs are simply illusions (false beliefs), and you have realised that, hence you made your post. In the end, it is about how being mindfull of our thoughts, having an open mind, "watch" and "reflect" instead of "judge" and "conclude", and not to accept anything without evidence (like most if not all religions are beliefs without evidence).