A man's job is a hint for how he views the world; do you agree?

[Sushan]

This topic is about the December 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa

All computers are based on bits. A bit is a 1 or a 0—on or off. That’s it. There is a correlation between the personality types of technical people and our “black or white” mindsets. We have chosen career fields where the fundamentals are 1s and 0s, on or off, so it makes sense we view the world as black and white, rather than with shades of gray.

(Location 49 - Kindle version)

The author have suggested that there is a correlation between a man's job and how he views the world. In other terms we should be able to get an idea about a man's view on the world and how his mind will work in certain scenarios just by getting to know his job. What do you think? Do you think such a thing is possible and acceptable?

[ThomaSchmidt]

No, of course not, there are way to many circumstances why a person is doing what kind of job. Also you can probably see in your own environment that people with different values and belief systems still do and like the same things.

[Henry Case]

Yes, for the most part, someone's job gives little view on their quality of person, either way...although some jobs--like police officer or soldier--do give us some idea of what these people are willing to do or participate in

[LuckyR]

Yes and no. Just as there are (small) differences between the races, there are differences between members of different job types. HOWEVER, these differences are much smaller than the differences between members WITHIN races and job types.

[Good_Egg]

I reject the argument that the rigid binary logic of computers implies that all IT jobs involve rigid binary thinking.

But it's true that different jobs involve different skill-sets based on different ways of looking at the world. A town planner, for example, may spend their professional life in an area where there are no hard-and-fast rules, but only an evolving consensus. Whereas an economist spends their professional time in an area where individuals are taken to be rational and independent and the challenge is to devise systems that best satisfy their diverse preferences. A nurse may spend their professional time meeting patients' needs.

It would be surprising if there wasn't some carry-over of these skills and ways of working into such people's personal and political lives.

[Arbu123]

Yes and no. Just as there are (small) differences between the races, there are differences between members of different job types. HOWEVER, these differences are much smaller than the differences between members WITHIN races and job types.

I was thinking the same thing. Goes along with the “Will there ever be an end to racism?” thread.

[Henry Case]

Will there ever be an end to Taylor Swift albums?...she's doing three a year now

[MLunardini]

It depends, obviously.
The variables are many.
To reply straightforward to the answer:
[*] No, there isn’t a certain correlation.

Best regards,
MLunardini.

[LuckyR]

Yes and no. Just as there are (small) differences between the races, there are differences between members of different job types. HOWEVER, these differences are much smaller than the differences between members WITHIN races and job types.

I was thinking the same thing. Goes along with the “Will there ever be an end to racism?” thread.

Both are examples of the lack of understanding of the statistical behavior of groups vs individuals.

[Arbu123]

Yes and no. Just as there are (small) differences between the races, there are differences between members of different job types. HOWEVER, these differences are much smaller than the differences between members WITHIN races and job types.

I was thinking the same thing. Goes along with the “Will there ever be an end to racism?” thread.

Both are examples of the lack of understanding of the statistical behavior of groups vs individuals.

You said it. But each individual is affected by their group.

[Sushan]

No, of course not, there are way to many circumstances why a person is doing what kind of job. Also you can probably see in your own environment that people with different values and belief systems still do and like the same things.

People can get together and do the same thing in harmony until it does not affect their personal beliefs, habits, rituals, etc. But that does not mean that they have kept their differences aside. Yes, choosing a job actually has many aspects than the personality or personal qualities of a person. But at the same time there are people who cannot do (or survive in) certain jobs although they have the necessary skills.

[Sushan]

Yes, for the most part, someone's job gives little view on their quality of person, either way...although some jobs--like police officer or soldier--do give us some idea of what these people are willing to do or participate in

I think you have a point. If I take the example of soldiers and policemen that you mentioned, I think it is not easy to wear such a uniform and one should possess certain character qualities. But it is doubtful whether all who wear such uniforms (in the job) are actually suited to them.

[Sushan]

Yes and no. Just as there are (small) differences between the races, there are differences between members of different job types. HOWEVER, these differences are much smaller than the differences between members WITHIN races and job types.

All human beings are different. And that is true inter or intra race as well as inter or intra jobs. But the other way round is equally applicable. We can see many similarities among those who belong to a particular race, probably gained by theie cultural backgrounds. And I think that can equally be applied to different people in the same job as well.

[Sushan]

I reject the argument that the rigid binary logic of computers implies that all IT jobs involve rigid binary thinking.

But it's true that different jobs involve different skill-sets based on different ways of looking at the world. A town planner, for example, may spend their professional life in an area where there are no hard-and-fast rules, but only an evolving consensus. Whereas an economist spends their professional time in an area where individuals are taken to be rational and independent and the challenge is to devise systems that best satisfy their diverse preferences. A nurse may spend their professional time meeting patients' needs.

It would be surprising if there wasn't some carry-over of these skills and ways of working into such people's personal and political lives.

Quite the point. Not all jobs in the IT field are related to binary numbers although the computers understand things in that way. But if you are not a people-person you may not be able to do a job like a nurse, doctor, or a receptionist. And at the same time, if you are a people- person and enjoy being around people you may not tolerate a job which involves sitting behind a desk or a computer the whole day without seeing any other live being. But there are people who love such jobs simply because they cannot tolerate people.

[Sushan]

Yes and no. Just as there are (small) differences between the races, there are differences between members of different job types. HOWEVER, these differences are much smaller than the differences between members WITHIN races and job types.

I was thinking the same thing. Goes along with the “Will there ever be an end to racism?” thread.

I see that the thread you mentioned is quite popular among our members and still being discussed. But I think this is not asking exactly the same thing or something similar to that. According to your race you may see the world in a particular way. And if the topic is true then your job will do the same. But are these two the same? Are the impacts from race and job to humans are similar?