Imagining vs Belief. [View all]

[Warren Stupidity]

Over in a forum dedicated to toxicity, "belief" and "imagination" are being described as equivalent.

What is wrong with this idea?

imagine
[ih-maj-in]
verb (used with object), imagined, imagining.
1. to form a mental image of (something not actually present to the senses).
2. to think, believe, or fancy:
He imagined the house was haunted.
3. to assume; suppose:
I imagine they'll be here soon.
4. to conjecture; guess:
I cannot imagine what you mean.

be·lief
bəˈlēf/
noun
1. an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.
"his belief in the value of hard work"
something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction.
"contrary to popular belief, Aramaic is a living language"
synonyms: opinion, view, conviction, judgment, thinking, way of thinking, idea, impression, theory, conclusion, notion
"it's my belief that age is irrelevant"
a religious conviction.
"Christian beliefs"
synonyms: ideology, principle, ethic, tenet, canon; More
2. trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something.
"a belief in democratic politics"
synonyms: faith, trust, reliance, confidence, credence
"belief in the value of hard work"

This is how an argument by equivocation works. You can take a secondary meaning of imagine: to think, believe, or fancy, tie it to a secondary meaning of belief: trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something, and then use that to declare the primary meanings identical, when in fact they are nearly opposite.