Summary
The lecture on the nature of beliefs, truth, and knowledge taught me how to distinguish between these concepts vital for every human being. In particular, I understood that beliefs act as a basis of human behaviors, goals, and plans, whereas knowledge provides a defense against erroneous, potentially dangerous beliefs. As such, one should strive to attain knowledge in order to find the truth, which is essential for forming rational and justified beliefs.
Application
Most importantly, I learned about the crucial role of beliefs in human life. Beliefs guide individuals’ behaviors and define their perception of the world, so one must be aware of the power of self-deception that distorts beliefs and stops one from attaining truth. In this regard, I realized how vital knowledge is, both from personal and professional perspectives. Instead of embracing beliefs without a careful analysis, one has to apply a rational approach and check whether a belief is true. Paul Karl Feyerabend said there are no absolute truths; however, I reckon certain beliefs may be false and misguided while being perceived as true by those who share them. In this regard, the lecture taught me how one could protect themselves against the dangers of self-deception.
Integration
The lecture helped me understand the nature of values, which can be considered convictions or especially deep beliefs. In the words of Anton Chekhov, ‘Man is what he believes.” In this respect, the lecture led me to the conclusion that a nurse must adhere to a firm set of moral values. In addition, I learned the utmost importance of rationality in nursing. The rational approach allows a nurse to avoid erroneous beliefs and adopt the best professional practices. Overall, rationality acts as the pathway to knowledge, the true and justified beliefs that help nurses fulfill their duties.
Human Dimension
The lecture’s content is particularly significant for nursing students since it emphasizes the role of beliefs and knowledge. As a result, nursing students learn that true beliefs are necessary for professional success, and the best way of attaining such beliefs lies in rationality. From a personal perspective, I had a feeling that human beings are primarily defined by their beliefs before taking the lecture. However, the lecture showed me the vast importance of beliefs, which can be compared to air or food in terms of significance for human lives.