Lieke Asma

New paper in Synthese: Implicit bias as unintentional discrimination

The first paper of the project Implicit bias: What are we missing? has been published in Synthese, under the title Implicit bias as unintentional discrimination. It is open access.


Abstract: 

In this paper, I argue that instead of primarily paying attention to the nature of implicit attitudes that are taken to cause implicit discrimination, we should investigate how discrimination can be implicit in itself. I propose to characterize implicit discrimination as unintentional discrimination: the person responds to facts unintentionally and often unconsciously which are, given their end, irrelevant and imply unfair treatment. The result is a unified account of implicit bias that allows for the different ways in which it can display itself and can be explained. Furthermore, the view can account for the central characteristics of implicit bias: (1) that it is, for a variety of reasons, difficult to control, (2) that we are not necessarily unconscious of implicit bias but not properly conscious either, and (3) that we can unintentionally discriminate regardless of whether we claim to care about fairness.

I am a philosopher (PhD.) and psychologist (MSc.), employed at the Munich School of Philosophy

A list of publications and my CV can be found on PhilPeople.org.

 

In 2021, I received an individual research grant from the DFG for the project Implicit bias: What are we missing? (2021-2024).

 

I wrote a Dutch book on free will: Mijn intenties en ik: Filosofie van de vrije wil, which was on the shortlist for the Socratesbeker for the best Dutch philosophy book of 2021 and the Hypatiaprijs for the best philosophy book written by a woman. 

Contact

liekeasma [at] gmail.com

twitter: @asmalieke

de.linkedin.com/in/liekeasma