The Nature and Mechanics of Beliefs and Values

[Gregor]

Hey everyone,

just discovered this amazing group and I thought I make use of it right away. I am currently in the process of getting an understanding of what beliefs and values are and how they work as well as how they are altered. Can anyone recommend good literature on that topic?

Looking forward to your suggestions and can't wait to become a participating member to this group.

All the best from Vienna,
Gregor

[Katherine]

I found this book to be very helpful.

https://www.universalmedicine.com.au/...

Katherine

[Gregor]

Thanks for the hint Katherine. I'll look into it.

Katherine wrote: "I found this book to be very helpful.

https://www.universalmedicine.com.au/...

Katherine"

[David]

I don't know if you are in Vienna Austria or in the US? Regardless, I didn't exactly read a book, however, I taught a volunteer course for a year on values & beliefs in a recovery program, in which the "students" were ex-convicts living together for 6 months as a requirement for release to the general population. They had all been convicted numerous times for drug and alcohol abuse. Most were high school drop-outs and had never successfully held a job or had a lasting personal relationship. We met once per week for two hours.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I learned from the students. They had, for the most part, never thought much about right or wrong. They didn't think much about other people when they made decisions. It had never occurred to most of them that their actions impacted other people.

Saying what I said, consider doing some volunteer work with people outside of your social/educational sphere. It is very enlightening and I can assure you that what you will learn will be worth more than one book.

[Gregor]

Thanks David. I completely agree with you but I am still looking for a book about a philosophical/onthological perspective on beliefs and values.

David wrote: "I don't know if you are in Vienna Austria or in the US? Regardless, I didn't exactly read a book, however, I taught a volunteer course for a year on values & beliefs in a recovery program, in which..."

[Stephie]

Gregor wrote: "Hey everyone,

just discovered this amazing group and I thought I make use of it right away. I am currently in the process of getting an understanding of what beliefs and values are and how they wo..."

Hi, Gregor.

I haven't contribute much to this group, but I came across your thread here.

I would recommend this book - Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: The Evolutionary Origins of Belief As the subtitle states this is an evolutionary approach to how and why we have developed beliefs. It contains a good presentation of "Theory of Mind." Some others call it "folk psychology", which isn't about folk cutural adages. It's the term give by philosophers to describe intentions, which include beliefs. Anyway, I found the book to be instesting and informative, and it doesn't require prior knowledge of philosophy.

PS - I hope your still following this thread.

[Gregor]

Steven wrote: "Gregor wrote: "Hey everyone,

just discovered this amazing group and I thought I make use of it right away. I am currently in the process of getting an understanding of what beliefs and values are ..."

Hey Steven, I do still follow this thread and thanks for your suggestion. It's much appreciated. :)

[Stephen]

Answering for political values/beliefs: "Moral Foundations Theory" by Jonathan Haidt -- introduced in The Righteous Mind, and also the Happiness Hypothesis, is a good look at our values across both political differences and also the modern shifts in values. One of my favorite real-world examples is a video of activists promoting a gay marriage bill in Washington State, who implemented Haidt's ideas in the real world, carefully picking which belief systems where they wanted to engage and try to change minds (authority & freedom, in that case) and which values not to engage (sanctity/disgust) during their political campaign. Cognitive Politics [my book; free pdf draft] reviews a lot of thinkers on political values, and workbooks many ways to change and/or work across different value systems.