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Re: OT: Reality (was: Re: Atlantean)

From:Andreas Johansson <andjo@...>
Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 16:00
Quoting John Cowan <cowan@...>:

> Andreas Johansson scripsit: > > > I would make make a three-way distinction between to believe in > > something, to disbelieve in something, and to have no certain > > opinion on the matter. "To doubt something" could be used for the > > third alternative, but might perhaps better not, since it's usage in > > not-technical speech tend to suggest being closer to disbelief. > > To take a simple concrete example: > > I believe that (either there is life on Jupiter or there isn't); > it is false that I believe there is life on Jupiter; > it is false that I believe there is no life on Jupiter. > > I don't think this can reasonably be called either doubt or disbelief; > rather it is simply a condition of having no opinion whatsoever.
If we are to use 'to doubt' for my "third alternative", this would indeed be a case of doubt - you doubt there is life on Jupiter. As I said, the word's normal usage makes this rather unhelpful, however.
> > "To not doubt something", in normal speech, does indeed mean to believe > it, > > illogical as that may be. > > The participants in this debate should go and learn a loglang forthwith; > then they may still not understand what is meant, but there will be no > doubt about what is said.
You have a point ... Andreas