“Knowledge is not for knowing, knowledge is for cutting.”
Michel Foucault

We recognize that most of our thoughts and our affinities come to us from elsewhere – from some kind of influence (i.e. familial, religious, academic, political). Yet, fairly often, someone’s confidence is weakened if that someone is led to think he or she is not thinking on his or her own. It is quite ironic though that what every one of us thinks and does (or doesn’t think and doesn’t do) is set for us in laws and customs – even if we feel that our thoughts and actions kowtow to our own “individual” outlook.

We think we are aware of our biases in favor of the values and beliefs of our own culture and the in-groups of which we are part. But are we really aware of our biases? Can we be? These biases edit all the information we receive, both past and current, right beside the biases of – for example – those who edit the makeshift news we gain access to.

“Media have tremendous power in setting cultural guidelines and in shaping political discourse. It is essential that news media, along with other institutions, are challenged to be fair and accurate. (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting. How To Detect Bias In News Media.)”

When the self-righteousness with which we allow ourselves to be carried along crowns the influences undertaken, let’s remember that “air is no less heavy because we do not detect its weight,” as Emile Durkheim said.