What Beliefs Are Made From

Jonathan Leicester

• Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781681082646
• eBook ISBN: 9781681082639
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: History & Theory in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

What Beliefs Are Made From explores the nature and purpose of belief. The book describes several strange beliefs that have been shared by many members of whole communities. The intellectualistic, dispositional, feeling and eliminativist theories of belief are then examined critically. This is followed by a review of factors that can influence people in their beliefs. These include faulty use of evidence, unconscious reasoning biases, inability to withhold judgement, wishful thinking, prior beliefs, shared beliefs, personal experience, testimony, judgements about the source of testimony, personality, in-group psychology, emotions and feelings, language, symbolism, non-verbal communication, repetition, propaganda, mysticism, rumour, conspiracy theories, and illness. The book also covers beliefs of children and belief during dreaming. The regulation of inquiry by belief and disbelief is described.
What Beliefs Are Made From is a useful reference for general readers interested in the philosophy of the mind, and the psychology of belief.

References

Jonathan Leicester

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Table of contents

• Welcome
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS LTD.
• FOREWORD
• PREFACE
• The Problem with Belief
• Some Strange Shared Beliefs
• Four Theories of Belief
• The Evolution of Mind
• Causes of Belief
• Belief, Consciousness, Attention
• Memory and Belief
• Introspection and Belief
• Emotions and Feelings
• Perception
• Personality
• In-Groups and Out-Groups
• Symbolism
• Speech and Language
• The Role of Belief During Inquiry
• Complexity, Children, Dreams
• Illnesses that Affect Belief
• Nature and Purpose of Belief
• Conscience
• Dualism and Immaterial Mind
• Appendix. The Brain: Structure and Function
• Notes
• References