Comments on: Blinking Your Way Through Life http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/blinking-your-way-through-life/ The blog of Joseph W. Kraft Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:06:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Rob http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/blinking-your-way-through-life/#comment-102 Rob Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:06:43 +0000 http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/?p=25#comment-102 It's important to understand that Blink is not about relying on gut instincts all the time. Rather, it is mostly about how *unbiased* experts can often make very accurate judgments with seemingly very limited information. If anything, Gladwell's book merely serves to show how misguided our unconscious can be, and how deluded we are as to the power of our rational reasoning skills as well. His examples consistently point out how bad snap judgement is unless highly constrained by scientific or expert variable isolation. Gladwell tries to address this in the latest reprint of 2007. Almost coincidentally, I wrote a review of Blink on Feb 7, 2008 at http://certain2win.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/blink-again/ . It’s important to understand that Blink is not about relying on gut instincts all the time. Rather, it is mostly about how *unbiased* experts can often make very accurate judgments with seemingly very limited information. If anything, Gladwell’s book merely serves to show how misguided our unconscious can be, and how deluded we are as to the power of our rational reasoning skills as well. His examples consistently point out how bad snap judgement is unless highly constrained by scientific or expert variable isolation. Gladwell tries to address this in the latest reprint of 2007.

Almost coincidentally, I wrote a review of Blink on Feb 7, 2008 at http://certain2win.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/blink-again/ .

]]> By: J W Kraft http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/blinking-your-way-through-life/#comment-98 J W Kraft Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:59:20 +0000 http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/?p=25#comment-98 It is true that some judges in the US are elected in paprtisian elections, and I agree with your general sentiment that it is a flawed system. However this is not the case with the US Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justices are not party affiliated nor are they elected by the people. They are appointed by the Presitent, confirmed by the Senate, and they sit for life. Impartiality be undamned. It is true that some judges in the US are elected in paprtisian elections, and I agree with your general sentiment that it is a flawed system. However this is not the case with the US Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justices are not party affiliated nor are they elected by the people. They are appointed by the Presitent, confirmed by the Senate, and they sit for life. Impartiality be undamned.

]]> By: Christopher http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/blinking-your-way-through-life/#comment-97 Christopher Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:27:30 +0000 http://underagethinker.wordpress.com/?p=25#comment-97 As good an example as any of Pascal's dictum at work is in the US judicial system where judges are elected by the people, based on whether they are Republicans or Democrats. So the way a judge will rule on many issues is predictable, despite that judges are supposed to be impartial. Therefore, that the US Supreme court, with its Republican majority, would rule in favour of Republican candidate George Bush in 2000 in Florida, was preordained. Impartiality be damned. As good an example as any of Pascal’s dictum at work is in the US judicial system where judges are elected by the people, based on whether they are Republicans or Democrats. So the way a judge will rule on many issues is predictable, despite that judges are supposed to be impartial.

Therefore, that the US Supreme court, with its Republican majority, would rule in favour of Republican candidate George Bush in 2000 in Florida, was preordained. Impartiality be damned.

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