Belief vs Faith (Philosophical Distinction)
Summary
TLDRThis video from Carnedies.org explores the difference between belief and faith in philosophy and religion. It defines belief as a propositional attitude where a person accepts a proposition as true. In contrast, faith has various interpretations, ranging from belief without justification to trust in a deity or hope that religious claims are true. Different religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, offer distinct views on faith, from a virtue to a starting point for spiritual growth. The video also critiques faith without justification, highlighting potential dangers in such beliefs.
Takeaways
- 📚 Belief in philosophy is defined as an attitude that a particular proposition is true.
- 🌟 Faith is a more complex concept with various interpretations across different religious traditions.
- 🔍 A common definition of faith is belief without justification or proof, often referred to as the 'doxastic venture model'.
- 🏆 For some Christians, faith is the acceptance of religious truths that are not subject to rational justification.
- 🎓 Saint Thomas Aquinas viewed faith as belief in religious doctrines, with some articles of faith being demonstrable through reason and others requiring belief without proof.
- 📈 Faith can also be defined as a trust relationship with a deity, focusing on trust rather than mere belief in existence.
- 🌱 Other perspectives see faith as a form of hope, where one acts with the hope that religious claims are true but remains open to the possibility of them being false.
- 🌐 In some versions of Islam, faith is not just acceptance of the religion but exemplifying certain virtues to be considered a good Muslim.
- 🧘♂️ In Buddhism, faith or shraddha is the starting point of a spiritual journey, requiring devotion and study to grow into understanding.
- ⚖️ The script expresses concern over faith as belief without justification, which can lead to intractable disagreements and violence.
- 🔗 The video invites viewers to consider their own definitions of faith and to distinguish it from belief, prompting reflection on the nature of faith.
Q & A
What is the difference between belief and faith in philosophy?
-In philosophy, belief is generally considered a propositional attitude where someone assents to the truth of a proposition. Faith, on the other hand, has a more ambiguous definition and can vary significantly depending on the religious or philosophical tradition. Faith might be seen as belief without justification or as a form of trust in a deity, among other interpretations.
How do philosophers define belief?
-Philosophers define belief as a propositional attitude where a person, S, believes a proposition, P, if and only if S assents to the truth of P. Essentially, to believe something means you think that proposition is true.
What is the doxastic venture model of faith?
-The doxastic venture model of faith views faith as a special type of belief without justification or proof. It is belief in something beyond the available evidence or what could be rationally concluded. This model contrasts faith with knowledge, where knowledge is justified true belief, and faith is belief that may be true but lacks justification.
How does Saint Thomas Aquinas define faith?
-Saint Thomas Aquinas defines faith as belief specifically in religious doctrines. Some articles of faith can be demonstrated with reason, while others must be accepted without proof. For Aquinas, faith is more certain than mere opinion but less certain than proof.
What is the 'trust model' of faith?
-The trust model of faith views faith not as belief in the existence of a deity, but rather as trust in the deity's goodness and plan. In this model, faith goes beyond belief in propositions and requires trust in the deity's intentions and actions.
How is faith viewed in certain versions of Islam?
-In some versions of Islam, faith (or 'iman') is a virtue that goes beyond merely accepting the religion. One might be a Muslim by accepting basic tenets, but having faith involves showcasing virtuous qualities and being a 'good' Muslim. Faith is thus a deeper commitment than simple acceptance.
What role does faith play in Hinduism?
-In Hinduism, faith (sraddha) is seen as the beginning of the spiritual journey. It involves belief in the scriptures as a starting point for seeking divine truth. However, faith alone is not enough—it serves as a working theory until deeper spiritual realization is achieved.
How is faith conceptualized in Buddhism?
-In Buddhism, faith (shraddha) is an attitude of devotion toward the Buddha and his teachings. It is considered essential for starting down the Eightfold Path, but it is not blind faith. Instead, faith must be tempered with understanding and practical reason as one progresses in their spiritual journey.
Why is the doxastic venture model of faith concerning to skeptics?
-Skeptics find the doxastic venture model concerning because it allows belief without justification. This can lead to intractable disagreements, as there's no rational way to resolve conflicts between two people who hold contradictory beliefs based solely on faith. In such cases, the only resolution might be violence or coercion.
How does faith differ from mere opinion according to Aquinas?
-According to Aquinas, faith is more certain than mere opinion because faith involves belief in religious doctrines that may be revealed and believed without proof. However, it is less certain than proof because not all articles of faith can be demonstrated using reason.
Outlines
🧠 Introduction to Belief vs. Faith
The video begins by introducing the topic of belief and faith, explaining their significance in philosophy, epistemology, and theology. While belief has a clear definition, faith is more ambiguous, varying across religious traditions. Some consider faith a type of belief, while others view it as something distinct. The video sets the stage to explore these differences, beginning with the philosophical definition of belief, which is described as a propositional attitude where a person believes a proposition to be true.
🤔 Philosophical Definition of Belief
The concept of belief is explored further. In philosophy, belief is described as a propositional attitude, meaning that a person (S) believes a proposition (P) if they accept it as true. This framework is applied to religious statements, such as 'Gods exist.' The video also briefly touches on other propositional attitudes like desire and wonder, where a person either hopes or questions whether a proposition is true. Belief, however, remains a key focus, described as a form of assent to the truth of a statement.
📜 Doxastic Venture Model of Faith
Faith is introduced as a more complex and debated concept. The doxastic venture model of faith is defined as belief without justification, often contrasted with knowledge, which is justified belief. The video explains that under this model, faith involves belief beyond evidence, making it distinct from knowledge. An example is given of someone having faith in a sports team’s success without any rational evidence to support it. This model is particularly relevant in religious contexts where belief is accepted without the need for proof or justification.
💡 Aquinas' View on Faith
The video moves on to discuss Saint Thomas Aquinas' perspective, where faith is belief in religious doctrines. Aquinas argued that some articles of faith can be demonstrated by reason, but others must be accepted without proof. Faith, for Aquinas, occupies a space between opinion and knowledge—it is more certain than opinion but less certain than proof. Aquinas' view represents a more structured definition of faith, where reason and faith intersect, but reason alone cannot fully justify religious beliefs.
🛐 Faith as Belief in Propositions
Another perspective on faith is presented, framing it as belief in specific religious propositions. For these philosophers, faith is the belief in propositions like 'God exists.' This model views faith as a cognitive act, where one believes in certain truths revealed by religion. The emphasis here is on the content of faith—specific propositions—rather than the experiential or emotional aspects of faith, which contrasts with more relational or trust-based views.
🙏 Trust Model of Faith
Faith is also described as a relationship of trust between an individual and a deity. This model, known as the 'trust model of faith,' shifts the focus from belief in God's existence to trust in God's goodness and plan. It distinguishes 'faith in' a deity from 'faith that' a deity exists. This trust-based faith emphasizes a relational dynamic, where belief in God’s existence is required but trust in God's benevolence is central.
🌟 Faith as Hope
Some philosophers define faith as a type of hope, where individuals act as if religious claims are true while remaining open to the possibility of their falsity. This perspective presents a less dogmatic view of faith, emphasizing the hopeful action rather than blind belief. It is portrayed as a more flexible and inclusive approach to faith, avoiding the rigid certainty that might come with other definitions.
📜 Faith as Virtue in Islam
In Islam, faith (imam) is sometimes seen as a virtue, going beyond mere acceptance of religious tenets. One can be a Muslim by following the religion’s core principles but still lack faith in its fullest sense. This distinction emphasizes that faith involves exemplifying certain virtues beyond intellectual acceptance of doctrines. The particular traits that constitute faith are debated, but the distinction between basic acceptance and true faith is a significant one in this context.
🕉 Faith in Hinduism and Buddhism
Faith in Hinduism and Buddhism is conceptualized as the beginning of a spiritual journey. In Hinduism, faith in scriptures is necessary to start the path to divine truth, but it is not sufficient for ultimate realization. Similarly, in Buddhism, faith (shraddha) is the initial trust in the Buddha and his teachings, which must be cultivated through study and reason. Both traditions view faith as a starting point rather than an endpoint, contrasting with more conclusive views of faith found in other religions.
🤨 Skepticism about Faith
The narrator expresses concern about faith, especially in the doxastic venture model, where belief without justification can lead to irreconcilable conflicts and even violence. Faith without evidence is seen as problematic because it cannot be debated rationally. Other forms of faith, which allow for questioning and justification, are considered less dangerous. However, the video concludes with a critical stance on faith that lacks rational foundation.
🎥 Conclusion and Call to Action
The video wraps up by inviting viewers to share their definitions of faith and belief, questioning whether faith should be seen as belief, trust, or something else. The creator encourages further discussion on the differences between belief and faith, acknowledging the wide range of definitions presented throughout the video. Viewers are also encouraged to subscribe, support the channel on Patreon, and stay skeptical in their philosophical inquiries.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Belief
💡Faith
💡Doxastic Venture Model
💡Propositional Attitude
💡Knowledge
💡Fideism
💡Trust Model of Faith
💡Aquinas’ View of Faith
💡Iman
💡Skepticism about Faith
Highlights
The series 'Dumbfounding Definitions, Dizzying Distinctions, and Diabolical Doctrines' explores philosophical jargon.
Belief in philosophy is defined as a propositional attitude where a person assents to the truth of a proposition.
Belief is a key concept in epistemology, the philosophy of religion, and theology.
Faith is more amorphous and debated, with different definitions across religious traditions.
In the doxastic venture model, faith is belief without justification or proof, common among some Christians.
Faith under the doxastic venture model contrasts with knowledge, where faith lacks justification but knowledge is justified true belief.
Aquinas defines faith as belief in religious doctrines, with some truths being provable and others requiring faith.
Some define faith as simply believing specific propositions, such as 'God exists'.
The trust model of faith suggests faith is a relationship of trust between an individual and a deity.
Another view sees faith as hope, where one acts with the hope that central religious claims are true.
In certain versions of Islam, faith (Iman) is considered a virtue, going beyond mere acceptance of religious tenets.
In Hinduism, faith is a starting point for the spiritual journey, not sufficient for salvation on its own.
In Buddhism, faith is an attitude of devotion to Buddha's teachings, tempered by understanding and practical reason.
The speaker expresses skepticism towards faith, particularly in its doxastic venture form, due to its potential for fostering unresolvable conflicts.
The video invites viewers to reflect on their own definitions of faith and belief and how they distinguish between the two.
Transcripts
welcome back to carnegies.org today
we're going to be continuing with our
series dumbfounding definitions dizzying
distinctions and diabolical doctrines a
series sorting through some of the
jargon of philosophy in this video we're
going to be taking a look at belief
versus faith
now
the terms belief and faith are important
for epistemology the philosophy of
religion and theology well in philosophy
the term belief has a fairly clear and
generally agreed upon definition the
definition of faith is much more
amorphous with many different
definitions coming from different
religious traditions for some faith is a
type of belief for others it's something
completely different and kind this video
will provide the traditional
philosophical definition of belief and
then explore some of the definitions of
faith that have been offered so let's
take a look for philosophers belief is
an attitude someone can possess it is
the attitude that a particular
proposition is true or some
statement is true effectively belief is
a propositional attitude between some
subject or a person s and some
proposition or statement p
that
s the person ascends to the truth of p
in other words
s believes that p if and only if s
ascends to the truth of p or s thinks
that p is true
basically s believes p means s thinks p
is true
what this means is that when i say when
someone says i believe gods exist
it means that they have a particular
relationship with the proposition gods
exist namely the relationship of
assenting to the truth of that
proposition you might have other
relationships to propositions called
propositional attitudes writ large
belief is a type of propositional
attitude but there are others such as
desire where you want a particular
proposition to be true or wonder where
you're curious whether a proposition is
true or not
there's a much more disagreement around
what the word faith means in a common
definition of faith is belief without
justification or proof or phrased
another way belief in something beyond
the evidence or what one could
rationally conclude this view of faith
is sometimes called the doxastic venture
model of faith
under the doxastic venture model of
faith faith is a special type of belief
it is the kind of belief that does not
have justification it may might be used
outside of a religious context pedro has
faith that his team will come back from
their current deficit pedro has no
evidence that his team will come back
but he believes anyway
in such a model faith might be
contrasted with knowledge
both are kinds of belief while knowledge
is true justified belief faith is belief
that may be true but is not yet
justified
this viewpoint is common among some
types of christians
particularly some fitists take such a
view with respect to religious faith
arguing that the truths of religion are
not subject to rational justification
but rather must be taken on faith for
them rational justification has no place
in the sphere of religion
check out our video on fideism for more
now
others have framed faith in an
explicitly religious way for saint
thomas aquinas for example faith was the
belief specifically in religious
doctrines for aquinas some articles of
faith can be demonstrated using reason
but others are only revealed and must be
believed without proof for aquinas the
degree of certainty that one can have in
revealed objects of faith ranks in
between claims that can be proven and
those that are matters of mere opinion
in effect faith is more certain than
opinion but less certain than proof so
aquinas ranks those doctrines of faith
that can't be proven with reason as
more certain than opinion but less
certain than proof
some define faith more generally than
aquinas does arguing that faith is
simply the belief in specific
propositions
that may be just the proposition god
exists or a set of special propositions
revealed to the believer in either case
for these philosophers faith is simply
belief in those specific propositions
one has faith if and only if they
believe ex-proposition
however not everyone thinks that faith
is a type of belief some claim it is a
relationship of trust between an
individual and a deity for this model
sometimes called the trust model of
faith to have faith is to trust that a
deity is good that a deity has a plan
for you but things will work out this
model focuses on faith in a deity as
opposed to faith that a deity exists
note the difference between faith in
versus faith that generally for such
theorists belief that a deity exists is
required but faith goes beyond that it's
above and beyond simple belief in
requiring trust in that entity
others think that faith is just a
different kind of propositional attitude
namely hope this can take many forms but
often it claims being faithful is acting
with the hope that a particular central
claims of a religion are true you have
faith if you act as if you hope that
your religion is true but are open to
the possibility that it's false
proponents of this view often tout
touted as a less dogmatic version of
other kinds of definitions of faith that
require blind belief
others still argue that faith is not a
specific belief but rather a virtue that
can be exemplified this view can be seen
in certain versions of islam which make
a distinction between merely accepting
the religion and having faith or imam
one might accept the basic tenets of
islam
and be a muslim without having imam
though the particular traits one must
exemplify to have faith are debated so
for some versions of islam
faith is going above and beyond what it
means to simply be a muslim it's
showcasing those virtues and being a
good muslim in some ways
in contrast some versions of buddhism
and hinduism faith or srata
is the beginning of a spiritual journey
not the end or going above and beyond in
hinduism faith
belief in the scriptures is required to
begin the search for divine truth but
faith alone is not sufficient it's
merely a working theory in until brahma
is realized so while it's similar to the
belief in the core tenets of the
religion it's framed differently as a
starting point instead of solely
sufficient for salvation as it's framed
often in many christian circles
so
once again a completely different
conceptualization of faith from islam
where a version of faith can be going
above and beyond what it is
here it's more the starting point you
must have this faith in these initial
texts to start your spiritual journey
in buddhism or some types of buddhism
shrakna or faith is the attitude of
devotion towards the buddha in his
teachings it's an essential component of
starting down the eightfold path as the
basis of the first two elements however
it's
not the unjustified faith that we saw
earlier but rather a conviction in the
truth of the religion's teachings that
grows as one studies more while one may
start with faith one must cultivate
understanding and temper faith with
practical reason buddha warns against
blind faith once again a similar idea of
trust but now framed as a starting point
on the way to wisdom instead of a final
goal
as a skeptic i am worried about faith in
most all of its forms but particularly
the doxastic venture sense it seems that
belief without justification is
dangerous and can lead to intractable
disagreements and violence because when
two people have belief without
justification in two different
contradictory things there's no amount
of rational disagreement that can
resolve that conflict the only thing
that could resolve it would be violence
other kinds of faith that
are merely a belief in particular tenets
of religion are less concerning though
i'm doubtful of any justification for
them at least they admit that such a
justification is required and can be
questioned or challenged whereas those
that take faith as under the doxastic
venture model of saying that this is
something that i'm allowed to believe or
can assert without any justification
they do not admit of any potential
challenges to their beliefs or to their
ideology
a big thank you to mike glottomans for
supporting carnegies.org on patreon
since 2020 you too can support the
channel and get access to patreon
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support public philosophy please do
consider donating
what do you think
how would you define faith clearly we've
seen many different definitions in this
video and i
am not convinced there's one right
definition here would you define it
similarly to any of the definitions we
offer here or do you have your own
definition how would you distinguish
faith from belief is faith a kind of
belief or a kind of trust are there
certain kinds of faith that are more
concerning to you than others leave your
thoughts in the comments below watch
this video and more here at
carneties.org if you like this video and
you want to see more please do subscribe
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don't miss other future videos from us
and as always stay skeptical everybody
you
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