Topics Ethics

Question Could you talk a little about the notion of "respecting people's beliefs"? Honestly, I don't respect anyone's beliefs. When someone starts rattling on about some belief they have, whether religious, ideological, or personal, I feel contempt for them. (I don't show it because I try to be polite.) I also don't like beliefs in myself. I try to root them out as much as possible. Is the notion of "respecting beliefs" supposed to just be political -- a way of saying that people shouldn't be discriminated against on the basis of their beliefs? Or are we really supposed to feel respect for the person sitting in front of us rambling on about vaccinations causing autism or Jesus saving their soul or whatever?

Accepted:
June 22, 2009

Comments

Actually, I very much doubt that you do try to root out beliefs as much as possible. After all, you believe -- on very good grounds! -- that apples aren't poisonous, that butter keeps better in the fridge, that New York is east of California, that Obama is President, that the moon isn't made of green cheese, that 2 + 2 = 4, and a whole host of other truths. Why on earth would you want to root out beliefs such as these? And if you did try to do so, how could you live any sort of life? If you had no beliefs one way or the other about what is safely edible, then you'd very soon poison yourself! We need true beliefs to guide successful action.

So, I take it that it isn't beliefs in general that you are trying to root out (that way madness lies!), but much more specifically it is those of your beliefs for which there are insufficient rational grounds and/or which are not generated in reliable ways. Beliefs which are not appropriately supported are too likely to be false, and we need our beliefs to be true if they are to lead to successful action. So quite right to want to root out the beliefs that don't pass scrutiny. Of course we should all be alert to the dangers of jumping to conclusions, of being swayed by bad arguments, of believing things just because those around us do (particular dangers, indeed, when thinking about e.g. religion or politics). A dose of self-critical scepticism is a very healthy thing, even if sometimes unconfortable to administer.

And what if we think others are holding onto (say) religious or political beliefs that are dubious? Well, again the same applies: a stringent dose of scepticism is what is needed. (Which isn't to say that it is always appropriate or polite to try to administer it!) For if a belief doesn't stand up to vigorous rational scrutiny it really isn't worth having. So in fact the way to show respect for those we disagree with is indeed precisely toengage critically with their ideas and argue: which is, of course, how we learn to improve ourown views. On the other hand -- and I take it that this is perhaps the thought behind the question -- the opinions of believers who try to insulate certain of their beliefs from such vigorous scrutiny, or who try to block open critical enquiry of their ideas, deserve no respect at all.