A Conversation for Critique of Belief
Where's the criticism?
Gone again Started conversation Oct 22, 2002
Hi GTB! 
As yet, this is only a discussion of the definition of belief. It seems to conclude that belief means what we all think it means. 
Do you think that 'faith' has a part to play in the meaning of belief? I mean accepting something without (objective) (Oh God! [1] the O-word 
) proof. Isn't there an element of this in 'belief'?
When *I* say "I believe...", I usually mean "I choose to accept..." - how about that for a definition?
Pattern-chaser
"Who cares, wins"
[1] My ejaculatory reference to the Prince of the Morning is entirely deliberate.
Where's the criticism?
GTBacchus Posted Oct 22, 2002
Hello, P-C 
This is an entry I began a long time ago, and then abandoned without ever getting to the point that I had in mind. I now have no idea what that point was. Actually, it may have been that "I believe in God" doesn't necessarily mean "I believe that God exists". (Whatever "exists" means, right?)
As for "I choose to accept" - that generally works, but if someone says "I believe in X" and you don't know what they mean, then rephrasing it "I choose to accept X" won't help. Rephrasing it as "I believe [specific, concrete claim about X]" might.
There's a companion piece, sort of, called Existence and Process. A525728. Does critique generally mean criticism? I'd been reading some Nietzsche at the time, and had some ideas about that word.
GTB
Where's the criticism?
Gone again Posted Oct 22, 2002
I think so; my dictionary says it's the "act or art of criticising". It's also American for "criticism", n'est ce pas?
Pattern-chaser
"Who cares, wins"
Where's the criticism?
Ssubnel...took his ball and went home Posted Oct 30, 2002
Reminds me of that passage in the book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (sorry I don't know how to underline), where he asks his class to define quality, only to discover how impenetrable the definintion is. Maybe yo should pursuit a defintion of belief and then worry about critiquing it later.
Where's the criticism?
GTBacchus Posted Oct 30, 2002
I think the title should definitely change. By 'critique', I only ever meant 'critical discussion,' as opposed to some other discussion of belief that would just talk about different beliefs or something, without bothering to get behind what the word means. I didn't intend to *criticize*, but rather to *critically* cut through what people mean when they say 'I believe in X'.
Apparently, the title is misleading. 
Finding a definition is, of course, the first step in any application of critical thinking.
Where's the criticism?
GTBacchus Posted Nov 6, 2002
This being part of Ben's uni project, I was just posting to check whether she's subscribed. That's all.
I'm considering "'To Believe - a Critical Definition", for the title.
GTB
Where's the criticism?
a girl called Ben Posted Nov 6, 2002
*Appears in a puff of tasteful green smoke, with swirly lights and sparkly - er - sparks*
*Disappears tantalisingly soon, to get some food, some cigs and a bolt for the bathroom door*
a figment of your imagination called Ben
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Where's the criticism?
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