Perspectives and Agendas

Abstract

“Perspectives and Agendas” discusses why it’s important not to believe everything you read: even well-meaning experts often have specific perspectives based on their disciplines, their interests, and who their friends and rivals are. This chapter considers these agendas, where they come from, and why those who have negative things to say are often more useful than those who have a more positive outlook. It looks at trust, bias, competitive relationships, dependent relationships, expertise, disagreement, rivalry, and collaboration. It also considers the dangerous concept of “balance” and why it is too often used to avoid responsibility for making an informed judgment based on the available evidence.