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To: marktwain

You are right, but only to a certain extent. There is a difference between knowledge and belief, with knowledge as much more credible.

Which is a more credible statement in court: “I believe John was at the house” or “I know John was at the house”?

But, knowledge is not the same as “truth.” As Mr. Watson said, “Both a knowledge statement and a belief statement can be true or false. But if false, the former can be justified with credible evidence that just turned out to be erroneous or obsolete, while a belief can’t provide any credible justification.”

For example, I know the earth is a sphere, but I know someone who believes the earth is flat. My knowledge is based on credible evidence, including my own eyes when I looked out the window of a plane when I first left the Philippines, but his is based on YouTube videos.

Which is more credible?


30 posted on 10/28/2017 8:22:47 AM PDT by Raymond Pamintuan
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To: Raymond Pamintuan
The actual definition of belief is "the acceptance" that something is true. That is, if someone else says they know, and you accept that (without knowing yourself), that is belief. To hold something to be true despite having no evidence, that is belief.

In fact, I'd suggest a hierarchy as follows.

know: hold something to be true based on experience or established facts
theorize: to hold something to be true based on principles
hypothesize: to hold something to be true based on limited evidence
believe: to hold something to be true independent of evidence

36 posted on 10/28/2017 8:46:34 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady (Why pay to get lectured by Hollywood on how awful whiteness is when MSM does it for free?)
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To: Raymond Pamintuan
My knowledge is based on credible evidence, including my own eyes when I looked out the window of a plane when I first left the Philippines

What did you see out the window of that plane that proved to you your position was correct?

I know it is a sphere because NASA has produced some very compelling fake images.

41 posted on 10/28/2017 10:11:35 AM PDT by itsahoot (As long as there is money to be divided, there will be division.)
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