APS

31st APS Annual Convention

The Social and Epistemic Functions of Religious Beliefs

Friday, May 24, 2019 · Washington, DC

Oral · Social

Do religious beliefs (e.g., “God exists”) differ from ordinary or scientific/factual beliefs (e.g., “The earth is round”)? Do they play different roles in guiding behavior? This symposium brings together recent theoretical and empirical work on the social and epistemic functions of belief, explanation-seeking, and behavior across domains.

Chairs & Discussants

  • Michiel van ElkChair
    University of Amsterdam
  • Michiel van ElkDiscussant
    University of Amsterdam

Presentations

  1. Does “Think” Mean the Same Thing As “Believe”?Neil Van Leeuwen
  2. What Are We Measuring?Neil Levy
  3. Explanation and Mystery in Science and ReligionTania Lombrozo