Belief and Acceptance as Features of Groups

Protosociology: An International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research Vol. 16, pp. 35-69, 2002

Posted: 4 Dec 2007 Last revised: 23 Dec 2010

Date Written: December 21, 2010

Abstract

In everyday discourse groups or collectives are often said to believe this or that. The author has previously developed an account of the phenomenon to which such collective belief statements refer. According to this account, in terms that are explained, a group believes that p if and only if its members are jointly committed to believe that p as a body. Those who fulfill these conditions are referred to here as collectively believing that p. Some philosophers - here labeled rejectionists - have argued that collective belief is not belief but rather acceptance. This paper presents several arguments against rejectionism.

Keywords: acceptance, belief, collective consciousness, group mind, metaphysics

Suggested Citation

Gilbert, Margaret P., Belief and Acceptance as Features of Groups (December 21, 2010). Protosociology: An International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research Vol. 16, pp. 35-69, 2002 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1052341

Margaret P. Gilbert (Contact Author)

University of California, Irvine ( email )

Humanities Office Building
Irvine, CA 92697-4555
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=5365

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