In Defence of "Belief"
The cognitive science of religion seeks to explain religious beliefs. Yet "belief" as a term has been criticised by many anthropologists, psychologists, and philosophers. The main criticisms of "belief" are that beliefs are unobservable, that they do not exist, and that the w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Belgrade
2008-12-01
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| Series: | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/950 |
| _version_ | 1818896813715881984 |
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| author | Jonathan A. Lanman |
| author_facet | Jonathan A. Lanman |
| author_sort | Jonathan A. Lanman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cognitive science of religion seeks to explain religious beliefs. Yet "belief" as a term has been criticised by many anthropologists, psychologists, and philosophers. The main criticisms of "belief" are that beliefs are unobservable, that they do not exist, and that the word ‘belief’ is a western construct unsuitable for comparative use. All of these criticisms may seem to render a "science of belief" naïve and mistaken. Utilizing the work of the cognitive sciences, and the philosophical view of functionalism that underlies them, I will offer a minimal definition of belief that will allow for a science of belief and withstand such criticisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T19:06:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6be925e9bc904633af474e843399e73b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0353-1589 2334-8801 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T19:06:15Z |
| publishDate | 2008-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
| spelling | doaj.art-6be925e9bc904633af474e843399e73b2022-12-21T20:09:25ZengUniversity of BelgradeEtnoantropološki Problemi0353-15892334-88012008-12-013310.21301/eap.v3i3.3In Defence of "Belief"Jonathan A. Lanman0Centre for Anthropology & Mind, Institute of Cognitive & Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, UKThe cognitive science of religion seeks to explain religious beliefs. Yet "belief" as a term has been criticised by many anthropologists, psychologists, and philosophers. The main criticisms of "belief" are that beliefs are unobservable, that they do not exist, and that the word ‘belief’ is a western construct unsuitable for comparative use. All of these criticisms may seem to render a "science of belief" naïve and mistaken. Utilizing the work of the cognitive sciences, and the philosophical view of functionalism that underlies them, I will offer a minimal definition of belief that will allow for a science of belief and withstand such criticisms.https://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/950beliefscience of beliefcognitive science |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan A. Lanman In Defence of "Belief" Etnoantropološki Problemi belief science of belief cognitive science |
| title | In Defence of "Belief" |
| title_full | In Defence of "Belief" |
| title_fullStr | In Defence of "Belief" |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Defence of "Belief" |
| title_short | In Defence of "Belief" |
| title_sort | in defence of belief |
| topic | belief science of belief cognitive science |
| url | https://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/950 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathanalanman indefenceofbelief |