Even scientists know that absolute objectivity has yet to be attained. Its the same for absolute truth. But, as many newspaper reporters have observed, the idea of objectivity as a guiding principle is too valuable to be abandoned. Without it, the pursuit of knowledge is hopelessly lost.
Adapted from Focusing Our Values, Nieman Reports
Assignment: Are people better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions if they remain neutral and impartial? Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Objectivity by researchers has not, and probably never will be attained. People will always have biases; some will be created by cultural values and others by personal views. The search for objectivity lies in the realm of philosophy along with the search for reality. Even though objectivity can never be reached, people are better at making observations, discoveries, and decisions if they attempt to set aside their biases.
As I have learned in my Theory of Knowledge class, perception and thought are intimately connected. While the same rays of light may enter two different peoples eyes, what they see may be very different. The brain takes the input from the eyes and processes it to form an image. That image is not the only thing the brain produces; it also provides extra information based on generalizations and bias. This unconscious addition of information changes the observation of an object. By attempting to reduce the addition of extraneous information being added to the observation, by being objective, a true observation of an object can be more closely approximated.
Discoveries, especially in the scientific realm can be doubly affected by a lack of objectivity. Since scientific discoveries are based on observation, all of the problems associated with observation apply as well to discoveries. Additional problems occur in the analysis of data collected by a scientific experiment. In a recent experiment in physics class, almost all of the students in my class analyzed the data incorrectly. However, armed with the knowledge that zero percent error is never possible, we were satisfied with the results. Our personal belief in the validity of the method of analyzation we chose, and lack of objectivity, led to our incorrect discovery in the field of energy. A lack of objectivity can clearly be seen to be a problem in my last student council election as well. The most popular person was chosen for president, not the objectively best candidate. Since then, the president has done nothing for our school. If the people involved had attempted to set aside their biases and pursue the goal of objectivity, it is less likely that errors would have been made.
Bias will always be a part of human life. It can, however, be limited in how much we let it affect us. The less we allow bias to influence, the more objective we are, the less likely we are to come to false opinions, discoveries, and bad decisions.
支付宝“福卡”你集齐了吗?
新春大吉:双语聊猴年
不花钱就学会四门外语的秘诀
站在扶梯左侧的“堵路者”
7项技能让你更具影响力
斯洛文尼亚小镇打造啤酒喷泉
研究:爱早起的人苗条 夜猫子聪明
研究:你学的专业透露你的性格
商场里的“男士椅”
你是哪种小肚腩?2016找对方法甩掉小肚腩
如何用英语谈论自己的星座
美国大选“初选”开战
当迟到成为一种习惯
过年添点新趣味 试试彩虹雀斑妆
最机智母上大人口头禅双语版
2015年热词“老爸”打败“小鲜肉”
说说地震的“破坏”
哈佛教授:影响第一印象的两个关键因素
日本兴起“和尚配送”物美价廉受欢迎
一周热词回顾(1.30-2.06)
情人节“情侣酒店”火爆
过年回答“霸道亲戚”必杀题 单身狗没娃党如何接招[1]
共和党初选落败 特朗普指责对手克鲁兹“耍诈”
网络新潮流:穿着泰迪熊跳舞
小学一年级英语寒假作业答案2016
《功夫熊猫3》的良心翻译
有了这个表,情绪表达不再难
让人发怵的“医生恐惧症”
玫瑰灯海闪亮香港情人夜
“立春”九大风俗 鸡蛋为啥能立起来?
| 不限 |
| 英语教案 |
| 英语课件 |
| 英语试题 |
| 不限 |
| 不限 |
| 上册 |
| 下册 |
| 不限 |