Paul Bloom 2: Can prejudice ever be a good thing?

TED 2014

Paul Bloom 2: Can prejudice ever be a good thing? (transcript)

Summary

I had a prejudice that having a prejudice was really bad and we don't have it.

In the dictionary, "prejudice" means a narrow view or opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. It also says harm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment.

However, the speaker tells us that he wants us to know that the prejudice and bias are natural and often even moral. By the aid of prejudice and custom, we can make good guesses or judge something accurately from creating groups.

However, this distinction sometimes goes awry. Just an exaggeration of normal psychological processes that exists in all of us. This is prejudice also that seems to show up very early and possibly leads to wars, even Holocaust.

We humans have to appeal to our emotional responses, empathy, and the power of reason. Our reason has a principle that we are not better than any other and the understanding of human rights. With them, we can change our prejudice to be better.

Words in this story

distinction /noun/  difference, contrast, classification, a difference or contrast between similar things or people.

duality /noun/ an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something; a dualism.

awry /adv/ wrong, twist

exaggeration /noun/  overstatement