Comments on: Two Meanings of ‘Overcoming Bias’ – For One: Focus is Fundamental. For Second: ? http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:20:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Bruce Britton http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417385 Bruce Britton Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:12:27 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417385 Thank you, Hopefully Anonymous, for your kind words, Ray G. and TGGP for your jokes, and Doug S. for the acronym. Robin, thanks for your suggestion, which has sent me on a search through old posts, but without much luck yet. I am beginning to think we may have different criteria for applicability of techniques of preventing myself being biased, could you help me by pointing me toward 3 or 4 examples of what you have in mind, of ways of resisting my future biases, that have been proposed on this blog (or anywhere)? Thank you, Hopefully Anonymous, for your kind words, Ray G. and TGGP for your jokes, and Doug S. for the acronym.

Robin, thanks for your suggestion, which has sent me on a search through old posts, but without much luck yet.

I am beginning to think we may have different criteria for applicability of techniques of preventing myself being biased, could you help me by pointing me toward 3 or 4 examples of what you have in mind, of ways of resisting my future biases, that have been proposed on this blog (or anywhere)?

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417384 Robin Hanson Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:16:40 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417384 Bruce your "only effective way I have found" data point would be more informative if we knew the other ways you have tried. Many other ways have been suggested on this blog, for example; did you try those? Bruce your “only effective way I have found” data point would be more informative if we knew the other ways you have tried. Many other ways have been suggested on this blog, for example; did you try those?

]]> By: TGGP http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417383 TGGP Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:11:05 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417383 I'm still waiting for studies done on deformation professionelle. I won't countenance the idea until one is published under peer review, and I refuse to consider evidence other than that conventionally favored by those in the academic profession until I am convinced it is a cognitive bias to do so! I’m still waiting for studies done on deformation professionelle. I won’t countenance the idea until one is published under peer review, and I refuse to consider evidence other than that conventionally favored by those in the academic profession until I am convinced it is a cognitive bias to do so!

]]> By: Ray G http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417382 Ray G Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:21:42 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417382 With all of that expanding, wouldn't the analogy be more apt if one were to work something in about a panoramic view? Which of course would lead the sarcastic to quote Chesterton's jibe about an open mind being great as long as it eventually closed on something. All kidding aside I do see the point, but I prefer the basics of formal logic. The principles of identity, the excluded middle, sufficient reason, and contradiction. Much simpler than 67 expansions of vision. With all of that expanding, wouldn’t the analogy be more apt if one were to work something in about a panoramic view?

Which of course would lead the sarcastic to quote Chesterton’s jibe about an open mind being great as long as it eventually closed on something.

All kidding aside I do see the point, but I prefer the basics of formal logic. The principles of identity, the excluded middle, sufficient reason, and contradiction. Much simpler than 67 expansions of vision.

]]> By: Hopefully Anonymous http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417381 Hopefully Anonymous Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:21:20 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417381 Really great post, Bruce. I'm surprised there aren't more responses 7 1/3 hours later. I don't much else to add at this point besides kudos for a substantial contribution to the blog. Really great post, Bruce. I’m surprised there aren’t more responses 7 1/3 hours later. I don’t much else to add at this point besides kudos for a substantial contribution to the blog.

]]> By: Doug S. http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417380 Doug S. Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:43:30 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/07/two-meanings-of-%e2%80%98overcoming-bias%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-for-one-focus-is-fundamental-for-second.html#comment-417380 As science fiction writer <a href="http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">David Brin</a>'s aphorism goes, "CITOKATE: Criticism is the only known antidote to error." As science fiction writer David Brin‘s aphorism goes, “CITOKATE: Criticism is the only known antidote to error.”

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