Philosophy Biases

Biases within philosophical practice—the assumptions, preferences, and exclusions that shape what philosophy is and who gets to do it. Philosophy Biases include: canon bias (studying the same dead white men); method bias (privileging analytic over continental, or vice versa); language bias (philosophy happens in English, German, French—not in indigenous languages); gatekeeping bias (who gets called a philosopher); progress bias (assuming philosophy progresses like science). Philosophy Biases make philosophy smaller than it could be—a conversation among some rather than a discipline for all.

Philosophy Biases "Your philosophy degree covered zero non-Western thinkers. That's Philosophy Bias—assuming Western philosophy is philosophy, not one tradition among many. Philosophy means 'love of wisdom,' not 'love of European wisdom.' Bias makes the discipline a club instead of a conversation."

Philosophy Biases by Dumu The Void March 1, 2026