What steps do you take to make sure your views are not mere bias?

Answer 1

In a nutshell, intellectual honesty and recognition of my values.

I try to educate myself and think things through, and I try to know as much as I can about why people with the opposite view think as they do.

I try to evaluate information based on its source (especially if there's money involved). I look at how well ideas are accepted by people with the most knowledge. I know I can't learn everything about global warming, for example, so I choose to rely on people who are climatologists and not politicians.

(What I especially look out for is something called "astroturfing". This is a technique to present a group as being "grassroots" even though it is funded by entities who have irons in a particular fire. They go by names such as "Concerned Citizens for ....." that are deliberately deceptive.)

I'm suspicious of views that conform to ideology. I'm more interested in evidence than speculation. I try to recognize misrepresentations and rationalizations when I see them, especially in arguments that I agree with.

Many people's biases come down to values. People argue and argue and try to "prove" one thing or another without realizing their underlying assumptions are not shared. Take abortion, for example: One side believes abortion is murder, and must be stopped; the other side fundamentally disagrees. There is no point in trying to prove things one way or another.

Most biases cannot be dissuaded with facts, even when they *can* be disproven, because they are not rational. Racial discrimination is a good example. I'm not sure why so many people discriminate against other groups, although I'm certain there are many theories. Speaking personally, I don't like racists. I suppose shows I'm biased.

Answer 2

My views are my views, but if I know I'm going to use them in an argumentative discourse, I'll research them against several sources, make them available for verification, and try, if at all possible, to respect the other person's point of view which more often than not is extremely difficult to do.

Answer 3

My views are not biased! How dare you! You don't even know me! My views aren't biased! They're all perfectly correct,thank you kindly now myob! Ya little fishchomper.

Answer 4

I don't... I allow myself bias, it's human and my life need not be perfect science.

I believe the world is flat! lmao

Answer 5

Small ones.

Get A Grip.

Answer 6

research, research, research

Answer 7

I would never be biased. I'm an Atheist.