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Publius · 12-04-2004, 01:06 PM

Are beliefs a choice?

Hmm, I have two primary objections to this question. First, it fundamentally presupposes that we do indeed have “choice”. Second, even if we grant that we do have “choice”, this question is still a “chicken or the egg”, which comes first beliefs or choice?

After carefully weighing all sides of the argument concerning freedom of choice I find myself “believing” (note, this isn’t by choice, it is an honest belief) the theory of “psychological egoism” to be correct. For those of you not familiar with psychological egoism, this theory claims that every “choice” one takes is made because one believes it to be in one’s own personal self best interest. This does not necessarily mean that one does in fact always act in one’s own best interest, because one it liable to have mistaken beliefs about what one’s best interest may be, just that one does in fact hold a belief that a particular action was made or will be made to that effect. Therefore, all of one’s “choices” are based off of one’s “belief” that the decision reached will be in one’s own personal self best interest. Notice, by following this line of reasoning “belief” comes before “choice”.

Now lets take this a step further. Under this theory, the vast majority of beliefs one has are nothing more then mere impulses. You have an impulse to eat food, therefore you “believe” you are hungry, which leads you to “choose” a particular food to eat. Of course, you didn’t really “choose” anything, you “felt” like eating a particular food item and so you did. (Example, your at a nice restaurant with your SO and the dessert cart comes around. You looked it over trying to make your “choice” of dessert, and you ask yourself, “hmm what do I feel like eating tonight?”. After examining all of your “choices” you make a selection based upon what you “felt” most like eating. So there was actually no real “choice” involved, you simply acted out of desire.) While this example may seem to some to be a little overly simplistic, if you follow it out to its logical conclusion you can see where almost all human action is based off of nothing more then “mere impulse” and there is no real “choice” involved.

Without going into my full long spiel about how free-will does arise, let me briefly say that I do find that we have some, albeit very limited, ability to make real “choices”. To do so, however, one needs to undertake much thought, inner reflection, and meditation on the matter before a true “choice” can be reached free of (or at least shielded against)preexisting beliefs and impulses. It is then, and only then, that a belief could be reached by “choice”, but this outcome is very rare and an undertaking that most people are lucky to take more then a handful of occasions (if ever) in their lifetime.

12-04-2004, 01:06 PM	#25 (permalink)
Publius Crazy Location: Never Never Land	Are beliefs a choice? Hmm, I have two primary objections to this question. First, it fundamentally presupposes that we do indeed have “choice”. Second, even if we grant that we do have “choice”, this question is still a “chicken or the egg”, which comes first beliefs or choice? After carefully weighing all sides of the argument concerning freedom of choice I find myself “believing” (note, this isn’t by choice, it is an honest belief) the theory of “psychological egoism” to be correct. For those of you not familiar with psychological egoism, this theory claims that every “choice” one takes is made because one believes it to be in one’s own personal self best interest. This does not necessarily mean that one does in fact always act in one’s own best interest, because one it liable to have mistaken beliefs about what one’s best interest may be, just that one does in fact hold a belief that a particular action was made or will be made to that effect. Therefore, all of one’s “choices” are based off of one’s “belief” that the decision reached will be in one’s own personal self best interest. Notice, by following this line of reasoning “belief” comes before “choice”. Now lets take this a step further. Under this theory, the vast majority of beliefs one has are nothing more then mere impulses. You have an impulse to eat food, therefore you “believe” you are hungry, which leads you to “choose” a particular food to eat. Of course, you didn’t really “choose” anything, you “felt” like eating a particular food item and so you did. (Example, your at a nice restaurant with your SO and the dessert cart comes around. You looked it over trying to make your “choice” of dessert, and you ask yourself, “hmm what do I feel like eating tonight?”. After examining all of your “choices” you make a selection based upon what you “felt” most like eating. So there was actually no real “choice” involved, you simply acted out of desire.) While this example may seem to some to be a little overly simplistic, if you follow it out to its logical conclusion you can see where almost all human action is based off of nothing more then “mere impulse” and there is no real “choice” involved. Without going into my full long spiel about how free-will does arise, let me briefly say that I do find that we have some, albeit very limited, ability to make real “choices”. To do so, however, one needs to undertake much thought, inner reflection, and meditation on the matter before a true “choice” can be reached free of (or at least shielded against)preexisting beliefs and impulses. It is then, and only then, that a belief could be reached by “choice”, but this outcome is very rare and an undertaking that most people are lucky to take more then a handful of occasions (if ever) in their lifetime.