How is this definition of "belief"?

In Philosophy classes in undergrad, we learned how to argue without animosity or personalizing it into a contest. The idea was to share/compare ideas and find out how to improve them, not "win" anything.

Stop whining...and you won't need as much wine.

Yes, but I was trying to make a point to ci and used an example that may have been understandable to ci. If I was posting to you then I would have tailored my response to suit you.

I would also like to say that they're very few 'exact' synonyms and someone who is careful with their choice of words will select not just a 'blanket' word like belief with all its baggage and connotations but choose a word which most closely matches their sentiments.

So if I said: "We can't find measurable variables in beliefs that are unsubstantiated expressions of intuition." What would be understood by it?

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Yes, but I was trying to make a point to ci and used an example that may have been understandable to ci. If I was posting to you then I would have tailored my response to suit you.

How political of of.
I understand what you are saying, and we all do this. I strive to do less of it. It's a rather recently acquired ambition. I feel I should "win" because of the value of my arguments, not because of my rhetorical abilities. Perhaps not in a political debate, but if I "win" every argument in a personal relationship because I am better with words, I am being very inconsiderate and disrespectful towards my partner, am I not?

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I would also like to say that there are very few 'exact' synonyms and someone who is careful with their choice of words will select not just a 'blanket' word like belief with all its baggage and connotations but choose a word which most closely matches their sentiments.

I try to find words that match my sentiment exactly. If I wanted to draw attention towards the kind of beliefs that have absolutely no relation to specific physical phenomena, scientific inquiry or known religious doctrine, I could refer to them as "unsubstantiated expressions of intuition", for instance.
Then someone could object and say for instance "a belief isn't the same as an unsubstantiated expression of intuition", and yes, they would be right. They would also be missing the point because they weren't precise enough in their interpretation of the words.
I wasn't speaking of all beliefs. I was speaking of only the kind of beliefs that can be rightly described as "unsubstantiated expressions of intuition". Their reaction, if they wanted to understand what I wanted to communicate, should have been to exempt all beliefs they can say do not fit the criteria from their considerations.

So if I said: "We can't find measurable variables in beliefs that are unsubstantiated expressions of intuition." What would be understood by it?

The key to debate is to agree terms and go from there. No one does this on A2k

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The key to debate is to agree terms and go from there. No one does this on A2k

I think I have remained consistent with my initial assertions through this thread. I have tried to, at least. I have tried to think about the issues that's come up using the proposed concepts. Perhaps this thread itself is a report of how that went.. I don't know.

Your OP can't be a definition of belief because there is already a definition of belief. If you want to create a new term called 'belief' for a specific purpose then you have to define it 'and' get everyone to agree to it 'but' you'd be better off just creating a 'new' term entirely and giving it the meaning you have proposed e.g. many philosophers have done just that.

Some people seem to think that it is more appropriate to refer to guesses as "beliefs." If someone feels that way...I say, "Go for it. Call your guesses, beliefs." But if you actually are going to assert that means you have taken a superior or more ethical position by doing so...I think you are nuts.

So, another thing posters do is to take what the previous poster said and truncate part of it... to make a point not intended by that previous poster... the term for this is 'out of context'

The key to debate is to agree terms and go from there. No one does this on A2k

I refer to my guesses as "guesses."

Some people seem to think that it is more appropriate to refer to guesses as "beliefs." If someone feels that way...I say, "Go for it. Call your guesses, beliefs." But if you actually are going to assert that means you have taken a superior or more ethical position by doing so...I think you are nuts.

And as someone mentioned earlier...just about all comments about the true nature of REALITY...are guesses.

Belief - a conceptual frame in which an individual arranges his perceptions.

Frank Apisa wrote:

I refer to my guesses as "guesses."

Some people seem to think that it is more appropriate to refer to guesses as "beliefs." If someone feels that way...I say, "Go for it. Call your guesses, beliefs." But if you actually are going to assert that means you have taken a superior or more ethical position by doing so...I think you are nuts.

And as someone mentioned earlier...just about all comments about the true nature of REALITY...are guesses.

Conflating guessing with believing?

Sounds like the sort of statement made by someone who just desperately wants to wedge the word 'belief' in there somewhere in order to "win" and argument.

Do theists guess that there is a god, or do they believe it?

If you tell them that they're guessing, you'd be in for a long, long argument, I'd bet.

Frank, you've said: "just about all comments about the true nature of REALITY...are guesses."
I've disagreed with your use of "guess" in philosophical discussions, but perhaps--as suggested by this quote--you might find acceptable the term "speculations".

Can you explain your definition of 'belief' and how it corresponds to my understand of the definition of 'belief'?