Recently, I noticed this strange question above in an Aeon-Psyche article: Do we have good reasons to believe in beliefs? A radical philosophy of mind says no. Last Saturday, a new friend said the following: “Believing is in the nature of mankind; it’s a clear feeling. You’re almost born with it.”
I couldn’t agree more with what he said. It was in a slightly different context (ie, faith vs religion) but still relevant to the question above. Even without “good” reasons, we do not have a choice in whether we believe – or not. Believing is part of our human firmware, my 2016 blog.
Research (eg, JSTOR-2015, SD-2016, RNS-2021) shows we have less trust in people who claim to be without beliefs. It is unnatural to us. Please also see my related blogs: Is it possible having no beliefs? (2022) and Can you not have a worldview, beliefs, or philosophy of life? (2021).
In 1943, Abraham Maslow introduced the hierarchy of needs. In my view, some of those needs are actually wants, while others are beliefs. See the comparison in Feel the need in me, my 2017 blog. All lifeforms have needs. Only some have wants (eg, birds, monkeys). Only humans have beliefs.
Hence, the hierarchy in my concepts: (i) Needs, Wants & Beliefs, (ii) Awakening, and (iii) Wisdom. Nevertheless, all of these stages are individual levels. We lack a collective or group consciousness, like in ants or bees. Perhaps, having individual beliefs prevents a collective consciousness.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, we do have a link between individual and universal consciousness (eg, panpsychism, Wiki). Perhaps, having individual beliefs is a prerequisite for that link towards universal consciousness. I suppose this thought is brand new (see song below).
The quote below may not seem relevant to you. In that case, please replace: (i) meditation by praying, (ii) collective by universal, and (iii) Samadhi by the link mentioned above. The words are different; the intentions are the same.
“Samadhi is the journey from individual to collective consciousness. The steps of Samadhi are the steps towards reaching the collective consciousness. In meditation, the more we radiate love, compassion, peace, harmony and tranquility, the more is our contribution towards the collective consciousness. The more we positively contribute towards the collective consciousness the more is our progress in Samadhi.”
A quote from Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style by Amit Ray (b.1960), an Indian author
You Are the Universe (1997) by The Brand New Heavies, featuring Siedah Garrett
band, artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-band, Wiki-artist, Wiki-album+book+song
You are the Universe
And there ain’t nothin’ you can’t do
If you conceive it, you can achieve it
That’s why, I believe in you, yes I do
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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