Believing on the basis of:

-     “Epistemic / epistemological reasons”:

o  reasons and evidence that support thinking that some belief is true:

§  sensory experience: a posteriori evidence; empirical

§  thinking; reasoning; reflection: a priori evidence

§  memory;

§  scientific evidence: statistical information.

§  Recognizing a tradition.

-     On the basis of more or less nothing! 

o  “No clue.”

o  “Just because!” “Just cuz!”

o  #NewMATH

-     “Pragmatic or prudential reasons”: Whether a belief is useful or not, pragmatic or not.

Pascal’s Wager:

J	God exists	God does not exist
Believe in God	Infinite reward! J	Wasted some time ( some negatives ); Perhaps your life will be better in some ways though.. Mixed bag, but not infinite either way
Not believe in God	Eternal punishment! L	Another mixed bag..

o   

-     On the basis of faith.  

-     Believing because of various causes:

o  Brain injury or disease.

o  Wish fulfillment or wishful thinking… hope… [pragmatic?]

o  “brainwashing”..

o  Drugs / drunk / hypnotized

o  Love?

o  Hormones..