| Abstract: | Replies to L. L. Downing's (see record 1992-33857-001) comment on D. T. Gilbert's (see record 1991-17453-001) article on belief and comprehension. When a person accepts or believes a proposition, the person is prepared to behave as though it is true. Belief is the propensity to behave, not the tendency to swear up and down. Downing's notion that people can be prepared to act as if X were true prior to knowing what X stands for is a non sequitur. Downing fails to distinguish between statements of belief and beliefs proper. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
