OK, OK, just for a minute or two....

Posted by Sparrow on Jan 24, 2002 at 14:10
18.a.arbros.nb.net (209.161.68.43)

Re: My eye is on the Sparrow .. (Eudaemonic Pie)

I'm back for a bit, but let's not bring religion in unless the discussion forces the topic (WHICH IT HASN'T!). Nor have I broached the topic of placebos -- and can't forsee that this topic will go there. Let me reiterate the Merriam-Webster definition of belief :

3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

So, in my hypothetical example, I have the evidence before me: a beaker that is precisely half-full. Some people would label it half-full, others as half-empty. That source of "belief"/"truth" in their conviction comes from a font that will affect their physiology, according to the weight of the accumulating evidence. Thus, I contend, science and belief DO belong in the same arena, when we discuss sentient beings [read Sapolsky's "Stress in the Wild" published YEARS ago--~20--in the Scientific American (maybe Richard Linney can provide a link?). The physiology of the olive baboons in the study was affected by their perception of their social position.]

That's my point: belief affects physiology. I refer you back to my original post for further direction....

Back to you....


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