Knowledge vs. belief
What exactly is the difference between knowledge and belief? Well, when I say difference I think I mean that there is an exceedingly fine line between the two notions, and indeed in some respects it isn't so much a line rather than a metaphorical blurring of boundaries. When you know something, you must naturally believe it; similarly, though, when you believe something, you think that you know it. If I said that I know that the Earth is a rotating sphere in space, I must also believe it - just as my Medieval Day counterpart would say that she knows that the Earth was flat (and possibly carried on the back of a turtle and four elephants), and also believed it. If I said that I believed in God, then I "know" he exists. A lot of us would say that we "know" about atoms, which would require that we "believe" that the world around us is comprised of these invisible little protons and electrons. Seems to me that knowledge requires belief, and belief incurs knowledge. A bit of a snake-biting-its-own-tail conundrum.
Well, I suppose some rationalists might say that you can't "believe" 2 + 2 doesn't equal to 4. This is true.
Anyway, that was just a random thought as I sat today staring morosely out at a miasmic thunderstorm landscape framed by the foyer under which we huddled to hide from the pelting storm...while my other lunatic friends blithely continued their football game, completely oblivious to the torrential downpour. I had a thought that I could ask them to put on some copper armour so I could enjoy some fireworks, but it seemed a sadistic thing to suggest, and so I quelled the thought and continued to watch the land dissolve.
I have been called a "goofy" girl recently. What do you say to an observation such as that?