Comments on: How To Join http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:36:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jeremy http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424569 Jeremy Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:51:47 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424569 The neurons in your brain are biased toward certain other neurons. That's how it works. Bias is fundamental. Embrace it. It will embrace us back. It's time the human super organism wakes up. The neurons in your brain are biased toward certain other neurons. That’s how it works. Bias is fundamental. Embrace it. It will embrace us back. It’s time the human super organism wakes up.

]]> By: Adam Leonard http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424568 Adam Leonard Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:01:11 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424568 The study of bias is moving out of philosophy and psychology and into neuroscience. Thanks to what has already been learned from brain research (esp. split-brain studies and fMRI research) it is now possible to theorize that our brain processes ideas unconsciously by comparing them with existing beliefs and generating an emotional cue (satisfaction, annoyance, anger, outrage) that allows the left-brain interpreter function to generate conscious pro or con arguments to justify the emotion. ... Thus, we are all biased, and yes, we are intrinsically blind to it. If you are unfamiliar with the left-brain interpreter function, read any of Dr. Michael S, Gazzaniga's books for the general public, from "The Social Brain" (1985) through "The Ethical Brain" (2006). If you are interested in a summary of what neuroscience has learned about our brain's functioning and how it makes possible a "Tribal Programming Theory of Human Behavior," I recommend my own book, "Man by Nature: The Hidden Programming Controlling Human Behavior." Adam Leonard The study of bias is moving out of philosophy and psychology and into neuroscience. Thanks to what has already been learned from brain research (esp. split-brain studies and fMRI research) it is now possible to theorize that our brain processes ideas unconsciously by comparing them with existing beliefs and generating an emotional cue (satisfaction, annoyance, anger, outrage) that allows the left-brain interpreter function to generate conscious pro or con arguments to justify the emotion. … Thus, we are all biased, and yes, we are intrinsically blind to it.

If you are unfamiliar with the left-brain interpreter function, read any of Dr. Michael S, Gazzaniga’s books for the general public, from “The Social Brain” (1985) through “The Ethical Brain” (2006).

If you are interested in a summary of what neuroscience has learned about our brain’s functioning and how it makes possible a “Tribal Programming Theory of Human Behavior,” I recommend my own book, “Man by Nature: The Hidden Programming Controlling Human Behavior.”

Adam Leonard

]]> By: Kaj Sotala http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424567 Kaj Sotala Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:06:59 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424567 <i>To be considered as a poster, please send a link to your thoughtful essay on this topic (published elsewhere is fine) to rhanson@gmu.edu. </i> An essay seems a bit strange of a qualification, since most of the posts here seem to be relatively short ones, not long essays. Would, say, three brief example "this is what I would post if I were a contributor" posts be fine as well? To be considered as a poster, please send a link to your thoughtful essay on this topic (published elsewhere is fine) to rhanson@gmu.edu.

An essay seems a bit strange of a qualification, since most of the posts here seem to be relatively short ones, not long essays. Would, say, three brief example “this is what I would post if I were a contributor” posts be fine as well?

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424566 Robin Hanson Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:33:20 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424566 Rainsmith, random comments about the blog are probably better placed at our monthly "Open Thread" posts, the most recent of which is <a href="http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/09/open-thread.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Rainsmith, random comments about the blog are probably better placed at our monthly “Open Thread” posts, the most recent of which is here.

]]> By: Rainsmith http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424565 Rainsmith Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:29:20 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424565 What if bias were removed fom the human mind andan incredible new theory of everything were suddenly to burst onto the global scene prescribing with infallable logic, ethical and moral perspectives and behaviour far from that maintained in the currect status quo. How would the modern world cope with a new 60's, lubricated by the internet and high drug availbility and usage. could the search for truth be about to explode in our faces? Surely an orgaisation such as yours ought to be considering contingincies for this, it may alrady be too late? Rainsmith What if bias were removed fom the human mind andan incredible new theory of everything were suddenly to burst onto the global scene prescribing with infallable logic, ethical and moral perspectives and behaviour far from that maintained in the currect status quo.

How would the modern world cope with a new 60’s, lubricated by the internet and high drug availbility and usage. could the search for truth be about to explode in our faces?

Surely an orgaisation such as yours ought to be considering contingincies for this, it may alrady be too late?

Rainsmith

]]> By: RainSmith http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424564 RainSmith Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:02:32 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424564 To approah te idea of knowing truth by removing our own biases, would, i feel be like removing noise from a radio broadcast, after which, true or not, we ought to have a better time listerning to the music or truth, so revealed. Such a state of clarity, would reveal, i think, sights of true splendor and be worth while. But after some time, we may feel the instinct to add a little human niose once again and see precisely what our own contributions to the universe actually do to the whole picture. ( ok, now were in the tv age now). would we not come to find that our perturbations, when in a certain harmony of those of the pure truth previously revealed, provided the most satisfying state for us to exist in? In this light, i feel the most relavant course of action would be, to find a clear definition of the exact natute of the noise we make , and just as in any fault finding scheme, turn them off one by one, and see what they do! It would be qite something for us to be able to circumvent the folly of our own biases ourselves, but as a first step, a clear map of what the actual biases are would be useful. I wonder? does anybody have a map of the human soul? To approah te idea of knowing truth by removing our own biases, would, i feel be like removing noise from a radio broadcast, after which, true or not, we ought to have a better time listerning to the music or truth, so revealed.

Such a state of clarity, would reveal, i think, sights of true splendor and be worth while. But after some time, we may feel the instinct to add a little human niose once again and see precisely what our own contributions to the universe actually do to the whole picture. ( ok, now were in the tv age now).

would we not come to find that our perturbations, when in a certain harmony of those of the pure truth previously revealed, provided the most satisfying state for us to exist in?

In this light, i feel the most relavant course of action would be, to find a clear definition of the exact natute of the noise we make , and just as in any fault finding scheme, turn them off one by one, and see what they do!

It would be qite something for us to be able to circumvent the folly of our own biases ourselves, but as a first step, a clear map of what the actual biases are would be useful. I wonder? does anybody have a map of the human soul?

]]> By: James Bach http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424563 James Bach Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:40:18 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424563 I've been assuming that "overcoming bias" is about overcoming insidious or debilitating bias. I have a preference for the flavor of blueberries over raspberries, but that's not necessarily an insidious bias that threatens the quality of my thinking or my experience. I’ve been assuming that “overcoming bias” is about overcoming insidious or debilitating bias. I have a preference for the flavor of blueberries over raspberries, but that’s not necessarily an insidious bias that threatens the quality of my thinking or my experience.

]]> By: The Editor's Log http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424570 The Editor's Log Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:19:14 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424570 <strong>Unless your bias gets in the way</strong> I'm interested in bias because so many people think they see traces of it in newspapers. Some of the commenters here seem to be obsessed with it. So I've added Overcoming Bias blog, hosted by the University of Oxford's Future... Unless your bias gets in the way

I’m interested in bias because so many people think they see traces of it in newspapers. Some of the commenters here seem to be obsessed with it. So I’ve added Overcoming Bias blog, hosted by the University of Oxford’s Future…

]]> By: Zhong Lu http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424562 Zhong Lu Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:17:06 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424562 What exactly is "bias" and what is wrong with it? Bias and disagreement is what makes the world fun. What exactly is “bias” and what is wrong with it? Bias and disagreement is what makes the world fun.

]]> By: Zhong Lu http://www.overcomingbias.com/2006/11/introduction.html#comment-424561 Zhong Lu Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:58:34 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2006/11/how-to-join.html#comment-424561 Yes. Isn't that the definition of "opinion?" Yes. Isn’t that the definition of “opinion?”

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