Daniel Kahneman and Ellen Langer go head to head over perception and bias. Should we see our bias as central to what makes us unique as individuals?

This excerpt is taken from the debate 'The perception bias,' recorded during the monthly IAI Live event in October of 2023.

Watch the full debate at https://iai.tv/video/the-perception-b...

We think there is a correct way of seeing the world, and we look to eradicate any bias that might vitiate this true perception of the world. But is this an error? Psychologists argue that perceptual biases are at the heart of our understanding of the world. Moreover, philosophers going back to Kant have argued that without the imposition of human concepts on sensation, there would be no perception and no consciousness.

Should we reject the desire to overcome bias and see the world truly, and instead see our perception of the world as one particular outcome of an extended process of trial and error?

#Perception #Bias #Reality

Daniel Kahneman is an author, psychologist and economist notable for his work on hedonic psychology, psychology of judgment and decision-making. He is also known for his work in behavioral economics, for which he was awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Ellen Jane Langer is a professor of psychology at Harvard University; in 1981, she became the first woman ever to be tenured in psychology at Harvard. Langer studies the illusion of control, decision-making, aging, and mindfulness theory.

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