The Development of Beliefs
How and why do beliefs form? What makes them stick?
We all believe things.
But have you ever thought about what motivated or convinced you to believe something?
What was the reasoning or rationale behind a belief, and do you even need a justification to have a belief in the first place?
Background
In his work “The Fixation of Belief”, Charles Peirce discusses how the process of fixation occurs through several methods, these being:
- the method of tenacity
- the method of authority
- the a priori method
- and finally, the method of science.
Peirce continues by explaining why the fixation of belief under the method of science is most advantageous because of its basis in reality and due to the practical results it achieves.
He describes this advantage in the following:
“…giving a new conception of reasoning as something which was to be done with one’s eyes open, in manipulating real things instead of words and fancies.”
To better understand Peirce’s argument regarding fixation, consider what fixation implies in this context.
