Covarrubias 1

ToK Essay (current word count: 1600)

Avoiding bias seems a commendable goal, but this fails to recognize the positive role that

bias can play in the pursuit of knowledge. This title can be categorized into five key terms. The

first being avoiding or steering clear of a specific subject matter. The second being knowledge- a

subjective topic. Plato’s definition will be used by defining knowledge as a “justified true belief”

(Chappell 2019). Bias or prejudice is the third key term. Moreover, the fourth key term is the

pursuit of knowledge or the process of gaining information. Lastly, a commendable goal is a task

worth accomplishing. The question is essentially asking if the lack of bias can result in benefits

such as acquiring greater knowledge with the idea that bias is typically a negative thing. In

simpler terms, is bias positive or negative? Does bias assist with knowledge? This topic will be

explored in two different areas of knowledge- history and human sciences- to prove that bias has

a negative effect on the knowledge acquired. Emotion and reason will be explored to analyze the

negative effect that bias has on a set audience. Bias is negative as it impacts the information

students are learning by giving them incorrect facts (history textbooks), as it can lead to incorrect

psychological study results (Dr. Kenneth Olson in human sciences), but it can also be positive in

that it can lead to an array of perspectives.

To start off, bias can be negative as it can lead to misinformation being spread. For

instance, textbooks within the United States differ from one another on the information they

release. It is commonly accepted that California supports gun control while Texas opposes it

(Goldstein 2020). Their textbooks support this idea as well since California textbooks have

additional sections discussing gun control in relation to the second amendment while Texas

textbooks do not. Since students are taught different perspectives on the issue, this could

contribute to the reasoning that there are so many different opinions on gun control since Texas
 Covarrubias 2

textbooks state that the constitution does not allow for it while California textbooks say the

constitution does allow it. There is also extensive information on critiquing African-American

lifestyles- more sections with opinions from critics- in Texas textbooks compared to California

textbooks. Using reason, one can see that Texas does have a history of exhibiting more racist

behavior via derogatory language (925) compared to California (717) (Radbil 2019). Students

from particular areas should not be expected to be progressive when the material they are

learning is vastly different than those from other areas. Rather than having the same information

in each version of a textbook, states are allowing their own bias to play a role in deciding the

curriculum taught to students which in turn is leading to clashes within different states (i.e 2020

election) since no one is taught consistent information.

The political beliefs of state governments and the education departments are impairing

students from being able to learn about more outside perspectives; limiting student’s mindsets.

As a matter of fact, I was taught by a teacher that was prohibited at another school from teaching

about slavery in relation to literature despite the fact that it was in learning curriculum required

by all states. She was the first African-American teacher to be teaching at the school in its entire

history. The school staff was so biased on the instiution of slavery and enraged of the idea of it

being taught to students, that they attempted to fire my teacher several times. In the end, my

teacher filed a lawsuit against the school and won which allowed her to start teaching some real

information to the students at the school. Had it not been for my teacher, the students at the

campus might have never learned on the history of slavery and the reason as to why racial

disparities continue to exist to this day. “To what extent does history continue being affected by

bias” is a question that we should continue asking ourselves since it is still an issue that

continues to this day.

 Covarrubias 3

In continuation, bias is crucial in human sciences specifically when conducting

psychological studies since studies must include limitations within their reports. Human sciences

is a branch that studies the reality of being human which can include studies conducted to

analyze human behavior. Bias is known as a major limitation within these studies and it often has

to be counted for when constructing data. One known example where bias affected the end

decision made by a doctor is the case of Nadean Cool (Haines 1997). Dr. Olson began treating

Nadean Cool after she came to him for treatment on what she believed was stress. Dr. Olson let

his own emotions and personal affiliations take charge and he convinced Cool that she had over

one-hundred different personalities. From there, he persuaded her into coming for treatment

weekly where he would force her to take drugs and be hypnotized. Dr. Olson used Cool in public

demonstrations and in studies to prove that multiple-personality disorders (now known as

dissociative identity disorder) existed. This is a devastating example where a psychiatric patient

was taken advantage of merely because of the bias one doctor had on a topic like dissociative

identity disorder. He was so desperate to show his “truth” that he allowed his own judgement to

be swayed, and he destroyed any reputation he had. This is only one example, but there are

thousands of studies where bias in the form of racial, gender, or more could also affect the

results. Despite all the negatives caused by bias, it is possible that are potential benefits as well.

While bias has many negatives, it could potential be a positive thing since it allows for

more perspectives to be known. When gathering research, having multiple articles be strongly

biased from both sides of an issue can lead to a concrete argument being made. I used to compete

in debate competitions and I had to have rebuttal arguments ready by researching both sides

thoroughly. If no biased articles existed, it would be much harder for me to argue on one side of
 Covarrubias 4

a given topic at a debate and be able to successfully beat any counter arguments. One common

topic was the legalization of medical mariguana. If there were no biased articles or studies

conducted to favor or be against the topic, it would be nearly impossible to formulate an

argument. Since there is so much information from all sides of the issue, such as studies showing

the improvement that marijuana has on the lives of patients and brain scans showing damage

caused by the usage of marijugana, being able to form one's own idea on the topic is possible.

Implicit bias (ideas that can have unconscious effects) and explicit bias (conscious ideas)

will always exist, so it seems better to make the most out of the situation by gathering as many

perspectives as possible. However, many people do not research different perspectives on a

given issue. In my case, I only investigated several perspectives on issues because I had debate

competitions, but many people do not compete in debates. Most people will only have the

information given to them by schools or their community. In those situations, bias is damaging

as it will lead to people being narrow minded and only believing one side of the issue as opposed

to being moderate. This provides context as to why the estimated number of moderate democrats

is 38% compared to 61% of more extreme democrats (Gilberstadt and Daniller 2020). I know it

would be much harder for me to be more moderate on something like politics if I only had

information from one side of the political spectrum as opposed to being more knowledgeable

from all sides on the topic. Is it even possible to fully avoid bias in human sciences? The answer

to this question differs from person to person and may never be answered with certainty.

In summary, bias could be seen as positive due to the fact that it allows others to see new

perspectives to different topic; however, bias is mainly negative due to the misinformation it can

spread and as it can lead to research being ruined with the subjects being potentially mistreated.

It is important for school systems and ethic departments to have strict rules implanted to ensure
 Covarrubias 5

that everyone is receiving the same information regardless of where they come from. As students

are being taught different material in the history area of knowledge, it makes it harder for them to

understand differing ideas to their own since they were only taught one certain point of view. As

for human sciences, it is vital for scientists to not let their own personal bias get in the way of

releasing the truth. Otherwise, more disasters like those caused by the Andrew Wakefield case,

measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine could potentially cause autism, will continue to

occur (Offit 2014). Measles and other diseases had outbreaks in Western countries after this

study was published since many parents stopped giving their children vaccines. The best that can

be done is making sure that the truth gathered by facts is put above any personal gain. Otherwise,

it will become increasingly difficult to limit the harm done by bias. In the words of Criss Jami,

“It’s not at all hard to understand a person; it’s only hard to listen without bias,” (2015). To work

on acquiring true knowledge- reliable information- we all must work on limiting our bias and

keeping bias to a minimum at our respective workplaces.

 Covarrubias 6

Works Cited

Chappell, S. (2019, November 21). Plato on Knowledge in the Theaetetus. Retrieved November

23, 2020, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-theaetetus/

Gilberstadt, H., & Daniller, A. (2020, August 28). Liberals make up the largest share of

Democratic voters, but their growth has slowed in recent years. Retrieved November 23,

2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/17/liberals-make-up-largest-s

hare-of-democratic-voters/

Goldstein, D. (2020, January 12). Two States. Eight Textbooks. Two American Stories.

Retrieved

From https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/12/us/texas-vs-california-history-text

books.html

Haines, J. (1997, December 02). Bozeman psychiatrist featured on national television shows.

Retrieved November 23, 2020, from

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/bozeman-p

sychiatrist-featured-on-national-television-show/article_f13cc856-fb52-5459-9617-14548

8977c4b.html

Radbil, S. (2019, December 27). Most Racist Cities in America: A Study on Tolerance &

Race: ABODO. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.abodo.com/blog/tolera

nce-in-america/

Jami, C. (2015). Criss Jami Quotes (Author of Killosophy) (page 2 of 32). Retrieved November

23, 2020, from https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4860176.Criss_Jami?page=2

Offit, P. A. (Ed.). (2014, November 05). Autism. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from
 Covarrubias 7

https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccines-and-other-co

nditions/vaccines-autism