The word for established assumptions is “axioms”

Definitions are kind of the most fundamental axioms. Abstracting things helps us build with them and they’re true because you say they are.

We use axioms in models to derive new theorems/information. But that is often what makes us resist changing them. If you build your other assumptions on an axiom, you have to rethink all those assumptions or even throw them out when it gets proven wrong.

However, attachment to a belief, holding to an assumption even when it’s been proven wrong, is called “delusion” and yeah those beliefs tend to be the most destructive

I think by cornerstone, they are referencing that beliefs are assumptions that form one’s model of the world.

You think by logically building on assumptions. “I remember putting leftovers in the fridge last night, so I don’t need to make dinner tonight” You assume your memories are accurate (or accurate enough) and then build on other things you “know” to construct every thought.

Sights, sounds, and vibes are a different story. They are called qualia and the raw experience of them cannot be described.

Think of qualia like the raw data you collect from an experiment. Your worldview is the scientific model you’ve built to describe this data and it rests on both fundamental logic and the beliefs/theories you currently believe in.

Unfortunately people don’t like having to change their worldview. And when you’ve held a belief for long enough, it becomes foundational to many of your other assumptions. Some people would rather say reality is wrong than change their beliefs.

The word for a belief that cannot be changed via evidence is called a “delusion” in case you ever want to piss off a religious person who says “nothing can shake my faith” like it’s a good thing.

if a belief is a model/theory/assumption that a person will not change regardless of evidence against it, it is by definition a delusion.

If a belief is an opinion, it is a personal statement. Statements like “Vim is the best IDE” are really conveying the information “I prefer Vim over all others IDEs” which is a true statement.

If a belief is a hypothesis then the person holding it will accept if it ends up being wrong.

Only in the first and second cases do people usually place importance on their beliefs, and typically, only the first case leads people to harm others or themselves with no way to convince them to stop.

Fun fact, my grandfather worked on the Saturn V and, according to my father, got in an argument with Von Braun at least once

I mean not fun because of working with Nazis, but fun because it’s interesting history

I have memories from when I was 2yo. I can recall the plots and quotes from almost any movie or show I’ve ever seen. Like I watched criminal minds only once almost a decade ago but if I catch any snippet of an episode I can still recall the entire plot and likely a quote or two.

I have a great memory… unless it is something important

I cannot remember when I have appointments scheduled this week. Nor can I remember peoples names or things I told myself to remember five seconds ago. If I set something down it basically no longer exists and I will get up to look for it even if I set it right next to me.

Meds help (ADHD) but still it’s fucking annoying