Keith Lane brings to my attention a set of questions that The Edge asked. We've linked to that online magazine quite a few times here. They always have provocative questions and interviews with top scientists and philosophers. This time they ask the question of what you believe is true even though you can't prove it. This not only deals with the obvious religious questions but also issues in science and other areas. Over 119 people responded.
Some of my favorite answers regard the difference between the brains of humans and other primates; that time isn't "real"; that the continuum hypothesis is false but that no one will ever prove it false; that evolution is true but unprovable; that memory is inherent in the universe and that laws are just habits (very Peircean); that cockroaches are conscious
I should add a funny aside by Leon Lederman in the article which I loved.
My friend, the theoretical physicist, believed so strongly in String Theory, "It must be true!" He was called to testify in a lawsuit, which contested the claims of String Theory against Quantum Loop Gravity. The lawyer was skeptical. "What makes you such an authority?" he asked. "Oh, I am without question the world's most outstanding theoretical physicist", was the startling reply. It was enough to convince the lawyer to change the subject. However, when the witness came off the stand, he was surrounded by protesting colleagues.
"How could you make such an outrageous claim?" they asked. The theoretical physicist defended, "Fellows, you just don't understand; I was under oath."
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Blogged by Clark Goble