In this connection, there is the word _opinion_ as in the ludicrous _I am
entitled to my opinion_
Like _believe_, it has its uses. I believe George Bush is planning murder.
That is my opinion. I realise there are other arguments. I have my reasons
for my opinion etc
Then there is the use of the word _opinion_ which leads on to outrage when
one asks for reasons for the opinion
A:- Do you have any reasons for your opinion?
B:- It's my opinion
or refuses to engage with arguments to the contrary of that opinion
A:- I don't believe Ariel Sharon is a murderer
B:- But he has admitted giving the orders to shell the camps
A:- I don't think he did it
B:- He's admitted it.
A:- I'm sorry but it's my opinion that he didn't kill anyone.
B:- But -
A:- IT'S MY OPINION!!!
I agree with you about belief. I'd like an era of doubt.
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin J. Walker" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 24 September 2001 12:44
Subject: Re: FW: George Lakoff on September 11
| I was also bemused by that view of Islam, David; just one look at
| Christendom & its multifarious rivers & tributaries, including quite a few
| <regressive fundamentalists from the hills>, will provide sufficient
| evidence that such a culture can't be wrapped up like that. Such as Jerry
| Falwell, with his attack on gays, modern women (& abortion in particular)
| after the 11th ~ I heard of them, but didn't see ~ evince remarkable
| similarities to the more fanatical Islamic "fundamentalists", actually.
| Otherwise I find Lakoff's take on logic & linguistics very suggestive &
| illuminating (in _Women, Fire and Dangerous Things_; never finished it
| though, I'm a chronic non-finisher...)
| A more general remark: I don't know if anyone else has the same queasy
| feeling when "belief" is adduced as a rational motive for human behaviour,
| as it sometimes is in discussions of "fundamentalism" and the "rights" of
| people not to be offended in their world-view, since it privileges some
| world-views over others; I have a problem with the word "believe", which
| explains nothing and has only a very vague referent: there's much too much
| piety involved in invoking it, I feel. Credo credo. OK in the _Missa
| Solemnis_ etc, in life it's dodgy & has become a synonym for "think with a
| certain amount of justification" when it's not a magic slogan
rationalizing
| the irrational. It's certainly vicious to my mind to associate religious
| belief & ethics as it were inevitably, as though the latter were invalid
| without the former. That attitude is the true irreligious power worship.
| Shelley saw that quite clearly.
| best
| Martin
|
|