Understanding Belief

Belief is characterized as a judgment about reality based on extrinsic evidence, distinguishing it from knowledge, which relies on intrinsic evidence. This distinction highlights the different bases for forming beliefs and knowledge: intrinsic evidence comes from the thing itself or factors that necessarily connect to it, while extrinsic evidence may arise from testimonies or other indirect indicators. For example, seeing the rain constitutes knowledge, while hearing about the rain from someone else represents belief. The talk elaborates that belief does not solely rely on personal testimonies; it can also stem from facts that appear related to the object of judgment, even if these connections are not recognized as necessary.