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All these exchanges are taken from the public Anthroposphy Tomorrow list archives. Return to the Peter Staudenmaier page.

Accusing someone of having a bias is not a criticism?

To: <anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com>
References: <20040302043214.46448.qmail@web14422.mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: Goodrick-Clarke
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 22:56:56 -0500

Daniel wrote:
"For example, praising the scholarship of a writer like Peter Bierl while suggesting that Goodrick-Clarke has a bias towards Steiner."

Peter Staudenmaier replied:
That was not at all a criticism of Goodrick-Clarke, who is an exemplary historian. There is nothing wrong with having a bias toward Steiner.

Daniel:
Let us go over some basic English (Courtesy of Websters Unabridged Dictionary, 2002 Edition):
bi·as, n
2. a particular tendency or inclination, esp. one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question; prejudice.

crit·i·cism, n.
2. the act of passing severe judgment; censure; faultfinding.

By the above definition, acusing someone of having a bias is by definition a criticism. For someone who writes so well, you seem to have an odd grasp of meaning. I have to wonder if it is accidental or intentional. Here you criticise someone while at the same time saying that it is not, actually, a criticism.

Daniel Hindes



Full entry for Bias
bi·as, n., adj., adv., v., bi·ased, bi·as·ing or (esp. Brit.) bi·assed, bi·as·sing.
–n.
1. an oblique or diagonal line of direction, esp. across a woven fabric.
2. a particular tendency or inclination, esp. one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question; prejudice.
3. Statistics. a systematic as opposed to a random distortion of a statistic as a result of sampling procedure.
4. Lawn Bowling.
a. a slight bulge or greater weight on one side of the ball or bowl.
b. the curved course made by such a ball when rolled.
5. Electronics. the application of a steady voltage or current to an active device, as a diode or transistor, to produce a desired mode of operation.
6. a high-frequency alternating current applied to the recording head of a tape recorder during recording in order to reduce distortion.
7. on the bias,
a. in the diagonal direction of the cloth.
b. out of line; slanting.
–adj.
8. cut, set, folded, etc., diagonally: This material requires a bias cut.
–adv.
9. in a diagonal manner; obliquely; slantingly: to cut material bias.
–v.t.
10. to cause partiality or favoritism in (a person); influence, esp. unfairly: a tearful plea designed to bias the jury.
11. Electronics. to apply a steady voltage or current to (the input of an active device).
[1520–30; < MF biais oblique < OPr, prob. < VL *(e)bigassius < Gk epikársios oblique, equiv. to epi- EPI- + -karsios oblique]
—Syn.2. predisposition, preconception, predilection, partiality, proclivity; bent, leaning. BIAS, PREJUDICE mean a strong inclination of the mind or a preconceived opinion about something or someone. A BIAS may be favorable or unfavorable: bias in favor of or against an idea. PREJUDICE implies a preformed judgment even more unreasoning than BIAS, and usually implies an unfavorable opinion: prejudice against a race. 10. predispose, bend, incline, dispose.
—Ant.2. impartiality.

Full entry for Criticism:
crit·i·cism, n.
1. the act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything.
2. the act of passing severe judgment; censure; faultfinding.
3. the act or art of analyzing and evaluating or judging the quality of a literary or artistic work, musical performance, art exhibit, dramatic production, etc.
4. a critical comment, article, or essay; critique.
5. any of various methods of studying texts or documents for the purpose of dating or reconstructing them, evaluating their authenticity, analyzing their content or style, etc.: historical criticism; literary criticism.
6. investigation of the text, origin, etc., of literary documents, esp. Biblical ones: textual criticism.
[1600–10; CRITIC + -ISM]
—Syn. 2. stricture, animadversion. 4. See review.

Copyright 1989-2007 Daniel Hindes