I am, as usual, in The National newspaper in Scotland this morning. This is my opening:
THERE is a question that is often asked in the USA but rarely mentioned in Scotland – “What are your priors?” A person's “priors” are the belief system that supports all the judgements they make on any issue.
That makes this question particularly relevant in politics. It also matters when you write a column for a newspaper, but I will return to that later.I regret the absence of this direct questioning in this country, because its purpose is to ask anyone presenting an apparently unsubstantiated claim just what assumptions they are making that support the beliefs that they are claiming to hold.
We are used to journalists always asking "How are you going to pay for it?" My suggestion is that "What are your priors?" should become the new standard question by default. That would flush the neoliberals out.
The National has an annual subscription for £20 offer on right now.
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Nice one – I’ll take that.
Fairness, justice and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives.
That’s my priors.
🙂
In your National article you refer to the ‘profoundly dubious prior assumptions’ of Neoliberal economics. I know you have already done an infographic on Neoliberalism but would you consider doing one on the assumptions made in Orthodox economics too, like how we always behave rationally in making decisions. It would be very helpful when challenging the Orthodox on their claims.
Will do?
Don’t forget Thermodynamics, Richard, as per Tim Watkins, here A small example of contagion
I won’t.
I live with someone who will not let me do so.
What about something taken from the worlds major belief systems?
I believe in God and that he has commanded us to love one another, the second great commandment of Christianity. I think most of us try to follow it whatever our beliefs.
I completely agree.
Neoliberals don’t have any values that they’re willing to openly defend.
They know very well how anti-social those values are and they are completely frightened of the idea to be subjugated by those values themselves.
They certainly would answer to that question something like:
“I absolutely am benevolent, I want all people to be satisfied and living good lives, BUT…..”
I’m glad that I’ve read a book about the Samurai when I was about 12, learning about the 7 principles of Bushido (Honour, Courage, Honesty, Benevolence, Righteousness, Loyalty and Respect).
I consider those my “Priors”.
Hi Richard,
I can’t find the £20 subscription offer. Any help?? Thanks!
I was told it was there only days ago, but now I find they ended it on Friday. Sorry. I wrote in good faith!
I had a similar conversation with someone who was saying that climate change isn’t real and that a mini ice age in the recent past is proof. I asked them to explain how and why scientist had missed this point, but he couldn’t. What were his priors indeed.
Democracy, freedom, sovereignty and pluralism. I recognise that democracy, freedom and sovereignty are often in conflict with one another. So pluralism is required to prevent violence. Of these, I believe pluralism to be the most important. I don’t believe the others can live long alone with it. Democracy will turn into something else just as described by Plato.