Methodology & Intent

The Belief Compass is an instrument for the topological mapping of intuition. It seeks to reveal the epistemological structure—the mechanics of verification—that undergirds an individual’s philosophical commitments.

The Inference Engine

Traditional psychometric tools often rely on summation, aggregating binary responses into a static score. This application, by contrast, employs a weighted probabilistic engine. No single query determines a coordinate; rather, each input adjusts the probability distribution across multiple philosophical frameworks simultaneously.

As the subject responds, the system refines its confidence in various models—ranging from strict Evidentialism to Fideism—using a simplified Bayesian inference. This method preserves nuance: a subject may operate primarily within an Evidentialist framework while retaining sympathetic vectors toward Pragmatism. The resulting profile reflects this tension.

On Epistemology

Discourse often founders on the content of belief (e.g., the existence of a deity, the authority of a text) while ignoring the instruments used to measure truth. One intellect demands historical corroboration; another seeks internal coherence; a third requires existential resonance.

By isolating the epistemological profile, we aim to:

• Delineate why specific arguments fail to register with certain interlocutors.
• Validate distinct, yet rigorous, methodologies of faith.
• Identify structural tensions where intuition may diverge from stated doctrine.

Note on Classification

This instrument is an exploratory project in the philosophy of religion. It simplifies complex traditions for the sake of clarity and does not replace rigorous study. The definitions employed rely on standard academic categories (Plantinga, Swinburne, James, et al.) but are necessarily abridged for the medium.