DominatorX1

I'm not seeing how this illuminates that why.

What does that imply? I want the complete statement here.

It can also be a tool.

For example, the model for gravity is just a useful fiction. But it's useful. And it being constantly useful like that, one becomes attached to it.

To generalize it, I'd call a belief "an idea that you are attached to". And it bears upon your more general blob of beliefs, thoughts, memories, etc accordingly. Like a constant among variables in the midst of an algorithm.

Ahh, now that's an interesting idea. Beliefs are important because they are communicable. So belief gains weight from its social significance. As society is powerful then so are beliefs.

So a man outside society, a hermit, might find his beliefs falling away.

Ahhh. Yes, they are thinking religion. I didn't think they'd lunge that way. I mean, with all the politics and gender stuff around these days, I figured the term would bee seen as broader. A wider range of options.

That said. Meh. Your thesis sums to "beliefs are important because beliefs are important".

That depends on the person.

You perceive a thousand things. Sights, sounds, nameless feelings... as well as beliefs.

One can be guided by any of that. And one can treat any of that as central.

Whether or not one treats one's beliefs as centrally important appears to be a matter of preference or perspective. Or something .

Nonetheless we definitely get attached to certain ideas. For various reasons.

But more than that, getting attached to certain ideas (believing stuff) is widely considered to be normal, right, healthy and necessary.

So you gotta ask why that is.

Well that's a terrible truth.

So why are beliefs so important for ao many people then?

I mean sure, maybe it's just indoctrination.

Or maybe it's utility. Believing a nice scientific model or car repair manual can deliver definite advantages.

Or maybe it's habit. I'm stuck in my head so arranging my mental furniture becomes important.

Or something else

Your thesis so far consists entirely of trite accusations. You got something with more substance?

So defensive. I believe that I have struck paydirt.