Open thread, Jul. 11 - Jul. 17, 2016

MrMind

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If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.

Notes for future OT posters:

1. Please add the 'open_thread' tag.

2. Check if there is an active Open Thread before posting a new one. (Immediately before; refresh the list-of-threads page before posting.)

3. Open Threads should be posted in Discussion, and not Main.

4. Open Threads should start on Monday, and end on Sunday.

I don't think the test does what you propose. I can both strongly identify with a belief and at the same time make anticipations based on the belief.

Three types exist.

1) Belief as association AND Belief as anticipation

2) Belief as anticipation ONLY

3) Belief as association ONLY

Only #3 Type beliefs would leave the believer making excuses in advance. They don't actually believe a claim to be true (anticipation), but they believe that assenting to the belief is important (association).

See Dennet's Belief in Belief and Sagan's Garage Dragon for more info.

I don't think it's quite and cut and dry as this, by the way. People have their personal probabilities in regard to how strongly they hold anticipatory beliefs. It's not all or nothing.