--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [T]here is a methodological bias in favor…" description: "\"[T]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg" --- # \[T\]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking… ![“[T]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for construing discourse as ambiguous, elliptical, or involving special idioms, we should not so construe it.” quote by Tyler Burge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg) > “\[T\]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for construing discourse as ambiguous, elliptical, or involving special idioms, we should not so construe it.” [Tyler Burge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-burge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Methodological bias favors literal interpretation of discourse, ignoring ambiguity unless justified. **In simple terms:** We tend to read statements literally unless we see clear ambiguity. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about literal meaning. Themes language analysis interpretation bias methodology Mood analytical critical Type Ambiguous:0 Being equal:0 Bias:0 Clear:0 Discourse:0 Equal:0 Example:0 Favors:0 Idiom:0 Involving:0 Language:0 Natural:0 Nature:0 Philosophical:0 Reason:0 Should:0 Special:0 Construing Discourse:0 Natural Discourse:0 Discourse Ambiguous:0 Reasons Construing:0 Discourse Literally:0 When to use this quote - textual analysis - legal interpretation - AI language modeling Key Concepts philosophy of language semantic theory critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When should we assume ambiguity? - How does bias affect understanding? A Different Perspective Over‑literalism can miss nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambiguous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguous/) [Being equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-equal/) [Bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Construing Discourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construing-discourse-3433779/) [Discourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discourse/) [Discourse Ambiguous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discourse-ambiguous-3433781/) [Discourse Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discourse-literally-3433783/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Idiom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiom/) [Involving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involving/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural Discourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-discourse-3433780/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Construing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-construing-3433782/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) ## Related quotes > [Other things being equal, it is the person who can lift his work up to the plane of the intuitional and inspiration who achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanwood-cobb/other-things-being-equal-it-is-the-person-who-can-lift-his-work-up-to/) [Stanwood Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanwood-cobb/) > [All else being equal, the guy with the best genetics will have the best physique. 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I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If we can't have comedy books written about aspects of womanhood without going into a panic attack about it, then we haven't got very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/if-we-can-t-have-comedy-books-written-about-aspects-of-womanhood/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [If a man had begun to hate an object of his love, so that love is thoroughly destroyed, he will, causes being equal, regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/if-a-man-had-begun-to-hate-an-object-of-his-love-so-that-love-is/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [The poorer is a family, the greater is the proportion of the total outgo which must be used for food... 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