Sannfæringar

Sannfæringar is the Icelandic term for beliefs or convictions. It denotes the mental state in which a person is convinced that a proposition is true. The term is used in everyday language as well as in philosophy, psychology, and social science. Sannfæringar can range from everyday assumptions to more comprehensive worldviews. They are not the same as knowledge; a sannfæring is a claim one holds with confidence, while knowledge requires justification and truth. A person may hold a sannfæring that turns out to be false or unsupported.

In philosophy, sannfæringar are analyzed as attitudes toward propositions, examined for their justification, evidence, and rational basis. Philosophers distinguish between justified and unjustified sannfæringar, and between those that are adequately supported and those that are not. The study includes how reasons, experience, and testimony contribute to forming beliefs, and how rational revision occurs in light of new evidence.

Psychology and sociology emphasize how sannfæringar arise and persist. Cognitive biases, emotions, social identity, and propaganda can shape or reinforce beliefs, sometimes leading to consensus within groups or polarization between groups.

In practice, sannfæringar appear across domains such as science, religion, politics, and everyday life. Understanding their formation and evaluation helps in assessing credibility, resolving disagreements, and promoting critical thinking.