From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!psych.toronto.edu!daniel Tue Mar 24 09:54:54 EST 1992
Article 4395 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: daniel@psych.toronto.edu (Daniel Read)
Subject: Re: Definition of understanding
Organization: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
References: <1992Mar9.162941.1959@psych.toronto.edu> <SMAILL.92Mar9215108@sin.aisb.ed.ac.uk> <6375@skye.ed.ac.uk>
Message-ID: <1992Mar11.173850.26887@psych.toronto.edu>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1992 17:38:50 GMT

In article <6375@skye.ed.ac.uk> jeff@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Jeff Dalton) writes:
>In article <SMAILL.92Mar9215108@sin.aisb.ed.ac.uk> smaill@aisb.ed.ac.uk (Alan Smaill) writes:
>
>>Is it not a problem if I believe I believe X, yet my actions
>>only make sense assuming I really believe not X?  
>
>What does this mean?  Are you suggesting that no one could believe
>X and yet act like they believe not-X?

I would be willing to contend that, but I think the problem is very 
complex.  A person does not have one belief, but a nearly infinite
number.  Consequently, their behaviour has to be considered as 
diagnostic of an entire system of beliefs, and not a single 
belief considered in isolation.  For example, I believe there
is an ice cream truck outside of my house, and I desire ice cream.
Consequently, I should go and buy an ice cream -- that would confirm
that I believe there is an ice cream truck in front of my house.  If 
I don't go and buy an ice cream that is not incompatible with my
belief and desire if (for example) I believe that this truck has ice 
cream of poor quality.  Even if I say something like "there is no 
ice cream truck in front of my house", I can still believe that 
there is an ice cream truck if I also believe that there is 
something to be gained by denying its presence.  Perhaps there 
are children in the house and I do not want to buy them ice cream.

There is no behaviour that is incompatible with any belief provided that
we recognize that the person has other beliefs.  Of course, if we knew 
all of a person's beliefs and desires we should be able to predict their 
behaviour, but clearly this is never the case.

daniel
 


