Single Idea 16392

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / a. Beliefs]

Full Idea

For Lewis, a belief mode is analysed by saying that to believe a content (analysed as a property) is for the subject of thought to 'self-ascribe' that property.

Gist of Idea

A content is a property, and believing it is self-ascribing that property

Source

report of David Lewis (Attitudes De Dicto and De Se [1979]) by François Recanati - Mental Files 18.3

Book Reference

Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.255


A Reaction

Lewis is weird. I would have thought you only self-ascribe the 'property' when you find yourself believing it. Lewis seems desperate to eliminate mental language. Belief can be a primitive concept without being primitive in ontology.