[beepbooptheory]

If the inner life of a human was simply pure intentionality, this would be a good story, but we are unfortunately concerned with things beyond "I want to do x" whether we like it or not. That is, you don't simply want to build a bridge in a vacuum, you want to build a bridge because you believe it will help you with crossing the river. You want to get to the other side of the river because you believe there will be treasure there, because indeed you found a treasure map and you believe it to be bona fide. You want treasure because you believe it will give you comfort and happiness.

Or whatever. I am just saying you can't help but believe, I am not saying there aren't necessarily good or bad beliefs, but I am saying that one belief or another doesn't make you "smarter."

Is not the idea of intelligence itself a kind of belief? Have we ever seen it in a microscope? How can you definitively answer, e.g. the Chalmer's zombie problem? The general issue of solipsism, of experience itself? Don't you believe that those who you love are full humans who hopefully love you back?

(Also I am sorry you keep feeling insulted, not sure what to do about that. Please know I fully implicate myself in all this as well.)