In the book "Man and his Superstitions" by Carveth Read, published in 1925, the author delves into the complex world of belief and superstition.
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| Man and his superstitions |
The term "superstition" is used to encompass not only traditional superstitions, but also magic and animism as forms of imagination-based beliefs. The author explores the role of imagination in shaping beliefs, highlighting its various uses and the concept of unverifiable representation.
Read discusses the nature of belief, emphasizing the different degrees of probability that individuals assign to their beliefs. He distinguishes between evidentiary causes, which are based on some form of evidence or grounds, and non-evidentiary causes, which lack such support. Memory, testimony, and inference play a role in shaping beliefs, as do apperceptive masses and methodology. Non-evidentiary causes, on the other hand, are influenced by factors such as emotion, desire, and suggestibility.
The author also examines the beliefs of immature minds, noting that non-evidentiary causes are more influential in shaping their beliefs. Immature minds tend to engage in vivid picture-thinking and lack a common standard of truth, which affects their ability to compare and evaluate different beliefs. The reasoning of immature minds is also explored, with a focus on fallacies of induction and reasoning by analogy.
Read goes on to discuss general ideas at the savage level, highlighting that even savages have general ideas, albeit often not recognized or named. Concepts such as force, causation, and equality are present in the beliefs of savages, despite their primitive nature. The author also explores the weaknesses of imagination-based beliefs, noting their superficial resemblance to perception-based beliefs and their closer alignment with play-belief.
Overall, "Man and his Superstitions" offers a comprehensive exploration of the role of belief and superstition in shaping human behavior and thought. Through a detailed analysis of the factors influencing belief formation, the author sheds light on the complex interplay between imagination, reasoning, and cultural influences in shaping our beliefs and superstitions.
