Practical Reason

Lesson 1: How to Develop a Belief System

What is a Belief System?

Definition

A belief system is a personal logical system. Logical systems themselves are sets of axioms, nothing more.

Axioms vs Values

Crucial is the distinction between axioms and values. Axioms are descriptive while values are normative. Unlike axioms, values are preferential focus points in your own life and therefore subjective. Since values are subjective, it follows that values have no place in a belief system insofar that belief systems are personal logical systems.

Developing a Belief System

The Two-Step Process

The proper way to develop a belief system is a two-step process:

Start by clearly stating your axiom(s).
Then, consider statements based on those axioms and empirical evidence to see if they should be added to your belief system.

Belief Systems in Practice

I will consider various examples of belief systems. At the end of this page, I attached an example of a potential Simple Pragmatist belief system.

A Simple Pragmatist Belief System

Simple Pragmatism in particular only has one axiom:

Induction works.