Identity and Bias in Philosophy: What Philosophers Can Learn from Stem Subjects

Author(s)Yasemin J. Erden
JournalThink: Philosophy for Everyone
Thematic Cluster/Special IssueWomen in Philosophy
AbstractThis article centres on two distinct but intersecting questions: (1) does it matter if we cannot definitively answer the question ‘what is philosophy?’ and (2) do philosophers exhibit bias? The article will answer ‘yes’ to both questions for the following reasons. First because the uncertainty has allowed some answers to dominate. Second, because the answers necessarily demonstrate biases, and these have led to a lack of diversity in the discipline. Following this, the article will consider why philosophers have been slow or reluctant to accept that bias plays a role in what we do. This lack of recognition has, I suggest, limited opportunity for diverse approaches, methods, and standpoints to flourish. The discipline has suffered as a result, and so too have diverse philosophers. Many fields in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) meanwhile have sought to tackle the lack of diversity head on, and philosophers would do well to heed their examples.
Keywordsimplicit bias, diversity in philosophy, feminist epistemology, disciplinary identity, philosophy canon, situated knowledge, underrepresentation, objectivity critique, STEM methodology, ethical oversight, citation bias, exclusion practices, analytical philosophy, philosophical practice, embodied experience
This content was generated by artificial intelligence using the text of the original work and reviewed by the author.
Date Published 2021
Volume20
Issue59
Pages117-131
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1017/S1477175621000245
URLhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/9EAC00CB591E7AFC1886103166C74DC3/S1477175621000245a.pdf/identity_and_bias_in_philosophy_what_philosophers_can_learn_from_stem_subjects.pdf
Google Scholar Linkhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=5978285274968707083&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5
Open Access?Yes

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