wedrifid comments on [SEQ RERUN] The Fallacy of Gray - Less Wrong

3 Post author: MinibearRex 17 December 2011 06:11AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (12)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: wedrifid 17 December 2011 03:06:51PM *  0 points [-]

Putting it another way: bias cannot be eliminated since it provides the mental structure used by the brain to organize data.

I assume you mean all bias cannot be eliminated? Obviously we can eliminate most of it. We just need to keep inductive bias and our predilection to satisfying our own preferences.

Comment author: kateblu 17 December 2011 03:49:36PM 0 points [-]

Yes, I mean all bias. My working definition of bias is the set of assumptions we more or less rely on for most of our daily activity. In most of what I do, I don't have time or it's not worth the energy to scrutinize all the underlying assumptions that shape my reactions. But I can develop methodologies to identify when I need to be more critical of my assumptions and think before I act. I can also, I hope, learn to be a better analytical thinker and problem solver.