How do we know what we believe is true?

Everything I say is based on my beliefs. Everything you say, if you respond, is based on your beliefs. Our beliefs are the result of how we see the world and effect how we see the world.

Many people who claim to have found the answer to deep sociological questions have simply stopped searching. Of course when two people have a discussion we should always remember.

What I believe is correct with the possibility of being incorrect. And similarly what you believe is correct with the possibility of being incorrect. Belief alone is not enough to establish truth. What is needed is verified belief. A more verifiable belief is a more correct belief. This process is a growing process that can continue as long as people endeavor to verify their belief. However verifying a belief is hard work and beyond the willingness of many to work to such an extent.

Social systems based on beliefs and resulting actions are many ways like living organisms. They endeavor to reproduce themselves, for if no other reason members of the social system can live more easily with in it. Also there is a competitive evolution between social systems. It is to the advantage of the members of a social system to reproduce and draw more members into their group. Members of large social groups do not need to live outside their environment and as result are not second class citizens. There is many disadvantages to living as a second class citizen in society. And like wise being in a position of respect with in a social system has many advantages.

As an open question how do you verify a belief. A simple approach is to try to verify or disprove some core belief. As an example verify the existence or non-existence of GOD. However existence or non-existence of GOD is a belief and can not be directly verified. The existence or non-existence of GOD must be indirectly verified.

The next question is it really all that important to verify a belief. I am sure you are thinking I am little crazy at this point, but remember social systems are based on beliefs. If a social system does not benefit the greater good of mankind, then it must be based on some incorrect beliefs. Using the analogy that social systems are like living organisms. Rather than classify a plant as good or bad based on some unsupported belief, instead ask does the plant bear good fruit. A fig tree that does not bear fruit is just as much a weed as a throne bush, despite the fact that the fig tree came from the chosen seed. Often our beliefs are partially right and partially wrong. Even a dead branch which comes from the very vine itself needs to be cut off.