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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

moral philosophers are not more moral Translation: Thinking clearly about something is not the same as doing it. Most political science teachers aren't good politicians. Good batting coaches (e.g., Charlie Lau) weren't outstanding batters. Most acting teachers were not successful actors, and so on.

college graduates rarely use what they learn. Translation: College is not trade school. it does not teach specific, job-related skills. The important "abilities" it teaches (how to think, how to read, how to write) are general.

medicine has little correlation with health True in the aggregate. The difference in health indicators from one time and place to another has much more to do with public health factors (e.g., clean water). At the individual level, medicine can make a big difference.

few give much to foreign or future poor Translation: the more distant --geographically, temporally, socially -- the poor are, the less we are likely to give.

Hypocrisy?

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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

Most folks either grab at flimsy excuses to deny or excuse such things, or express mild polite interest and then change the subject.

It would also be interesting to look at the people who do not exhibit the behavior you described.

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