The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1890-06-12
Prejudice.
b. H. HITE.

TO judge is to refer to some stand
ard. The character of the judge
ment in any case depends largely up
on the character of the standard.
This is derived from instruction, ex-
perience, customs, beliefs, pet theof-
les, or inherited tendencies, which
are different in different persons. So
! the standard will be different and
people will not see the same thing in
the same way. A person may be as
! sdisinterested as a mariners CONF
pass, yet the peculiar bent OF mind
| which he obtains FROM his surround
ings eonpets s,lfsn e. set things Ia D
peculiar light.
Prejudice may be defined as indi-
vidual deviation from the normal be-
liefs of mankind. Literally it isja
Judging beforehand, for without suffi-
cient evidence people are likely to
judge:as they wish. and the individ
ual peeuliarities find expression in
the wish. 1t is seldom the evidence
is complete, seldom. we judge With
out interest OF feeling. 1t is very
unlikely that without any interest
in a subject we will have gathered
sufficient inform alton to judge intel
ligently concerning it. But no mat
ter whether the evidence is sufficient,
or whether we are influenced by feel
ing, once having judged we are in
terested in our judgments, We. are
interested in the silliest guess
the throw of a die for, example
where we are not supposed to have
any reasons for guessing one way
rather than another We will al
ways be interested in our Judge
ments and opinions forwe are sup
| posed to have some reasons for these.
But we cannot decide that our opin-
ions are right simply because we
want them to be right-stiictly
speaking, a desire is not ofitself saf-.
ficient to determine our judgments
Practically, however, "the wish is
father to the thought" and if we
very much desire to believe thing
we will probably suceeedin believing
it. Reason always decides accord
ing to the evidence, but interests
and desires control the attention and
so determine the character of the
| evidence.
/ In looking for evidence, what is
really perceived OF remembered is
only fragmentary a mere outline to.
be filled in by the Imagination. I'VE
can detect all manner Of faces in the
clouds or fire by fixing our attention
ON the few points that may cores
pond to the image we have in mind.
These points become more distinct,
all others becoming more indistinct.
The same is true In more serious
observations. The desire that is
dominant in the mind SO directs the
attention as to make prominent the
points that correspond to the desire.
Theories and hobbies dictate to- OBJ
serration the phenomena that are to
be perceived. The mind is ever on
the alert to acatch reflection OF its
own preconceived notions. So our
imaginations aids us greatly in
finding the evidence we desire.
He may examine all the evidence
he can find on both sides, yeti the
odds are all against the other side.
It is SO hard to give the unfavorable
evidence fair bearing. He goes to-
hear . speaker Of the other side.
means to give him bis whole atten-
tion, but no sooner 10 an argument
advanced than whole host Of OBJ
Ijections fall in line 70 oppose It'll He
may try to forget his own views, but
\ the power Of old associations is
I against him.
Every argument may be overthroWn
without disturbing the .conclus-
I ion" IN the least. for, these were