A Definition Of Believing

It is the aim of this paper to present a formally correct and materially adequate analysis of what it is to believe paradigmatically that p. The object of the analysis is believing as opposed to belief because we make a mistake if we attempt to say what belief is, independent of the believing person. There are no beliefs independent of a believing person. Any adequate analysis of belief must take the role of the person into account. The adequacy of the analysis will be tested by showing how it resolves or sheds light on certain problems having to do with belief, namely, the problem of self-deception, Pascal's wager, Moore's paradox and the notion of degrees of belief.