Sum, Ergo Sum: I am, therefore I am
The Nature of Belief and the Fundamental “I” (“Where does belief originate ?” was the question my friend Sandeep Mall asked me on my article Credo, ero sum: I believe, therefore I am ) Belief can be understood as a form of long-term memory, deeply encoded within our neural architecture. Unlike fleeting thoughts, beliefs are stable mental constructs, reinforced through repetition, emotional significance, and lived experience. When a child repeatedly hears that hard work leads to success, each confirming experience carves this idea deeper into the mind, like a trail worn smooth by countless steps. Traumatic events, too, can instantly etch beliefs about danger or trust, shaping how we perceive the world for decades. This perspective invites a deeper question: where do these belief-memories originate? The Origins of Beliefs Beliefs arise from a dynamic interplay between what we’re born with and what the world teaches us: Genetic Foundations and Predispositions: We don’t ar...