tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-796169656211771238.post8366294431081738040..comments2022-03-26T08:29:44.266-07:00Comments on Making Progress: What is bias?Burgess Laughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865479709475171678noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-796169656211771238.post-59791569286880528192009-01-25T08:13:00.000-08:002009-01-25T08:13:00.000-08:00Skepticism is the belief (-ism) that no knowledge ...<B>Skepticism</B> is the belief (-ism) that no knowledge is possible. If I heard someone say, "Everyone is biased," I would suspect (pending further information) that the speaker is indeed a skeptic. In effect, he is saying that no one can attain objective knowledge of reality; we twist everything to our preconceived notions or prejudices.<BR/><BR/>Of course, such a position immediately invites the rejoinder: "Is your statement self-referential?"<BR/><BR/>That is, does the advocate of "universal bias" apply his statement to himself?<BR/><BR/>Most times, a speaker will accuse a particular person (an advocate of an idea the speaker doesn't like) or a class of individuals defined by inessentials (e.g., age, race, wealth, sex). In such cases, the motive seems to be to impeach the character of someone and therefore smear their ideas.<BR/><BR/>I also would suspect that a person who casually accuses all others of being biased is a <B>cynic</B>, a person who believes that virtue (including rationality) is impossible.Burgess Laughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865479709475171678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-796169656211771238.post-51745069163691832512009-01-25T07:56:00.000-08:002009-01-25T07:56:00.000-08:00Very interesting - I'm glad you posted this as it ...Very interesting - I'm glad you posted this as it took my interest a while back, but for one reason or another never worked it through.<BR/><BR/>By this measure, would you agree with me that when most people use the term 'bias' they are actually just invoking scepticism?<BR/><BR/>Some points:<BR/><A HREF="http://www.titosays.com/2009/01/bias.html" REL="nofollow">http://www.titosays.com/2009/01/bias.html</A>Roberto Brian Sarrionandiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05920869856249120119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-796169656211771238.post-76757695904904149602008-12-26T08:25:00.000-08:002008-12-26T08:25:00.000-08:00BIAS=PREJUDICE? My dictionary's list of convention...BIAS=PREJUDICE? <BR/>My dictionary's list of conventional usages of "bias" includes the synonym "prejudice." However, prejudice is a state of actually being set for or against something. By contrast, a "bias," conventual usage says, is a "tendency," particularly one that <I>might</I> lead to a nonobjective judgment. Bias (a potential) and prejudice (an actual) should not be synonyms.Burgess Laughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865479709475171678noreply@blogger.com