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.
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