In the case of Logical & Critical Thinking, "Bias" is defined at www.dictionary.com as:
"a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned" & "unreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudice"
Our Bias is a system of personal beliefs that we hold to an elevated perspective against other perspectives that differ from our own despite alternative viewpoints that are presented or practiced.
It is common for an individual to develop several forms of bias, be it conceived against a religious practice, or political judgment. An individual you have strong feeling for, or against. Each of these form of Bias can be volatile and unreasonable when held as a sole base in argumentative practices especially when this Bias is pit against an opposing viewpoint. An example is commonly seen between the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States in which a “side” has a volatile and opposing Bias towards the other. Similarly we can see such extreme examples in Science, such as the debate about Vaccinations. Or in social expectations which has been growing more profound as our technology grows. But not all forms of “Bias” needs be so unreasonably negative. The human conscious no matter how objective and logical an individual is able to construct a form of decision or reasoning, will always end in a personal judgment, or Bias. This form of conclusive Bias is then put out into one’s environment which is then either shared or rejected by others. This is how society, religious and various cultural practices are formed.
It is an essential characteristic of human identity that encompasses us all. Not all of which are detrimental and “Hostile” The challenge is our ability to recognize what these Biases are, what founded them, whether or not we have evaluated them objectively and if we can continue to remain open minded to new possibilities. While at the same time remembering that it is our own personal Bias that fuels our enthusiasm to achieve grand goals and reach for higher potentials.
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In your journal.
Write about 3 forms of Bias you perceive to be positive in your own personality. And pick at least one negative form that you feel you can work on.
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Posted by The J.Jedi Keeper
Last Edited: Feb 15 2017
Post Date: June 5 2020