Final answer:
The statement is false; humans can hold irrational beliefs despite the ability to dispute them due to motivated reasoning and lack of self-examination. Critical thinking and acknowledgment of evidence are crucial to refute irrational beliefs and attain true knowledge. False.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "If we were able to dispute our irrational beliefs we would not have them in the first place" is false. It is possible for individuals to hold irrational beliefs even if they can argue against them.
This is because humans often display motivated reasoning, where they first determine what they want to be true and then seek evidence to support those beliefs, dismissing evidence to the contrary. To lead a rational life, it is essential to engage in self-examination and be willing to acknowledge the evidence even when it contradicts our preconceived notions.
Philosopher Gilbert Harman emphasized that knowledge should not be based on no false premises or false steps in reasoning.
According to Harman, a person knows something if the belief is not inferred from any falsehoods. However, people can still maintain irrational beliefs until they critically examine and refute them. Even in academic conversations, there can be empirical debates, but the refusal to acknowledge evidence leads to persisting irrational beliefs. This process highlights the importance of epistemology—the study of knowledge and belief—and the need for rigorous standards for what constitutes knowledge.