Philosophy Bites

Jonathan Glover on Systems of Belief

Oct 9, 2011
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INSIGHT

Holistic Belief Systems

  • Belief systems are holistic, with interconnected beliefs.
  • When a belief is challenged, we choose which part of the system to adjust, not just the specific belief.
ANECDOTE

Gosse's Fossil Argument

  • Philip Gosse's example illustrates how any belief can be defended within a system.
  • Faced with fossil evidence, he claimed God planted it to test faith in Genesis.
ANECDOTE

British Communist Party and Hitler

  • The British Communist Party's shift in stance towards Hitler in 1939 demonstrates how core beliefs shape other beliefs.
  • To align with Stalin's alliance with Hitler, they adjusted their views on the war and Hitler's aggression.
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