PHI103 Week 3 – Discussion 2
|
Understanding Fallacies (Continued) [WLOs: 1, 2, 3] [CLOs: 1, 2, 3]
|
Your instructor will choose the discussion question and post it as the first post in the discussion forum. Answer all the questions in the prompt, and read any resources that are required to complete the discussion properly.
Guided Response: In addition to your original post, post a minimum of three responses for a total of at least four posts. At least two responses must be to your classmates; the third response could be to a classmate or your instructor. Be sure to post on three separate days throughout the week to promote further engagement and discussion. Each response should be a minimum of 75 words.
Week 3, Discussion Board #2
Instructor-choice prompt option #3
Parking Garage and Biases
Biases affect all of us, and we are all prone to committing fallacious reasoning at times. This discussion allows us to investigate some of our own sources of biases and ways in which we may be prone to fall for fallacious reasoning.
Prepare:
Prior to answering this question, make sure that you have completed the “Parking Garage” (Links to an external site.) and “Buying a Car” (Links to an external site.) scenarios. Make sure to read Chapters 7 and 8 of our book, paying special attention to ways in which people are affected by biases (including the sections “Stereotypes” and “Purpose and Potential Bias” in Chapter 8).
Reflect:
Think about why you made the choices you made in each scenario. Do those choices tell you anything about yourself and the way that you think? Would you do anything different if you were to do it again?
Write:
Address your experiences in each scenario in the following posts:
Part 1:
Answer the following questions: Why did you take the route you did in the parking garage scenario? Did you notice that you had preconceptions about different types of people and situations? Could those types of preconceptions ever lead to problematic inferences?
Part 2:
In the Buying a Car scenario, did you feel that the salesman had ulterior motives? Did they lead him to have any biases in terms of he wanted you to purchase? Point out some of the biases that you have in real life. Are you am interested party when it comes to certain types of questions? How does that potentially cloud your judgment? Relate your answer to the content about biases in Chapter 8.
Guided Response:
Respond substantively to at least two of your classmates’ posts in a way that furthers the conversation. For example, you might let them know if you have had similar biases as they have had and the ways in which those biases have affected your life as well. You also might give some indication of the sense in which it is possible to overcome these biases to have a more neutral point of view. Would such a view help you make better decisions?
Attention students: Keep in mind “bias” and this strong potential to “cloud our judgment.” Please be sure to read, carefully analyze, and thoughtfully reflect on each of these prompts:
- In the Buying a Car scenario, did you feel that the salesman had ulterior motives?
- Did they lead him to have any biases in terms of he wanted you to purchase?
- Point out some of the biases that you have in real life.
- Are you an interested party when it comes to certain types of questions? ** Perhaps because of the particular wording, this question confuses students as to intent. Bear in mind a situation, and consider the context as well as the players. We may have more at stake, a vested interest, etc., that is very much dependent on a particular outcome or decision. It is both a question of loyalties, gains/loses, and really an ethical matter to consider the good of others and not just “I, me, mine,” keeping only in mind stake/share holders.
- How does that potentially cloud your judgment? Relate your answer to the content about biases in Chapter 8
PHI103 Week 3 – Discussion 2 Answer
Part 1: Parking Garage Scenario
In the parking garage scenario, I chose a particular route based on familiarity and a perception of safety. I realized that my decision was influenced by preconceptions about different types of people and situations. For instance, if I noticed a group of people that didn’t fit my preconceived notion of “safe,” I might alter my route. This realization made me aware that such preconceptions could indeed lead to problematic inferences, as they may not accurately reflect the intentions or nature of individuals.
Part 2: Buying a Car Scenario
In the Buying a Car scenario, I did feel that the salesman might have ulterior motives, primarily driven by the desire to make a sale and earn a commission. This awareness led me to be cautious and critically evaluate the information provided. In real life, I acknowledge having biases, especially when it comes to decisions where I have a personal interest or stake. I might lean towards information that aligns with my preferences, potentially clouding my judgment.
Being an interested party in certain questions can introduce confirmation bias, where I subconsciously favor information that supports my existing beliefs. This relates to the content about biases in Chapter 8, emphasizing how our pre-existing beliefs can influence the way we perceive and interpret new information.
Guided Response:
Responding to my classmates’ posts, I can share my experiences of biases and how they have affected my decision-making. I can discuss instances where overcoming biases led to better decisions and a more neutral point of view. Additionally, I can encourage my peers to reflect on situations where biases might have influenced their judgments and explore ways to mitigate these biases for more objective decision-making.
