April 9 – Human Fairness vs. Algorithmic Rules: Why Empathy Trumps Code

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Albert Einstein

As a teacher, I was observing a group of four-year-olds playing a board game. One child shouted out, "That's not fair!" Another sighed, "My mom says life isn't fair." At the moment, I laughed, because we’d all heard those words or even said them ourselves. But later, I wondered about it. What is fair or unfair? Who determines fairness?

Fairness is a concept that shapes our societies, our legal systems, and even our games of childhood. But what exactly is it, and how does it differ from how machines approach fairness?

As humans, fairness goes beyond simply following a set of rules. It's about justice, impartiality, and a deep-seated desire for equal opportunity.

It's a concept that sparks strong emotions because fairness isn't a universal constant. It's a concept built on empathy, the ability to see the world through another's eyes.

This ability to see situations from multiple perspectives is crucial for fair decision-making. As Julie Smith points out in Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, "The most effective way to resolve a problem is to understand the problem inside out." We interpret situations through our own mental filter, shaped by genetics, experiences, and even the sleep we got the night before, as Elissa Epel explains in The Stress Prescription. This filter allows us to understand the emotions and needs of others, a skill that machines lack.

“As we’re on the cusp of using machine learning for rendering basically all kinds of consequential decisions about human beings in domains such as education, employment, advertising, healthcare, and policing, it is important to understand why machine learning is not by default, fair or just in any meaningful way.” Brian Christian

In our technological age, algorithms are increasingly tasked with making decisions that impact our lives. Loan approvals, job applications, and even criminal justice sentencing can be influenced by algorithms. The goal? To create a system that is fair and unbiased. However, as David Bodanis highlights in The Art of Fairness, true fairness requires more than just following pre-programmed rules. It requires understanding the nuances of human situations, the unspoken social cues, and the complex interplay of what's owed and what's deserved.

Further complicating the matter is bias. As Elissa Epel reminds us, "We each have a highly personal lens through which we see the world." These biases, often unconscious, can seep into the algorithms we create. An algorithm trained on biased data will perpetuate that bias, leading to unfair outcomes for certain groups.

B. Janet Hibbs, in Try to See It My Way, argues that fairness is about finding a balance. It's about respecting others, even if you disagree with them. It's about recognizing what's owed and what's deserved. Sometimes, this means going beyond treating everyone exactly the same. True fairness, or equity, acknowledges that individual circumstances may require different treatment to achieve a just outcome.

Machines can follow complex instructions and make calculations with impressive speed. However, they lack the ability to understand the complexities of human fairness. They can't grasp the emotional weight behind a child's cry of "unfairness," nor can they navigate the unspoken social cues that guide our judgments.

While algorithms can be a powerful tool, true fairness requires

the human touch. It's the ability to see the world through different lenses, to recognize and challenge bias, and ultimately to strive for a world where everyone has a fair shot. In the coming days, we will delve deeper into the various aspects of fairness, exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in our pursuit of a just and equitable world.

Activity:

Courtroom Observation: Visit a local courtroom (with permission) to observe how legal decisions are made. Discuss the concept of fairness in the justice system afterwards.

In today's increasingly digital world, it's easy to lose sight of what makes us human. The constant bombardment of screens and social media can distract us from cultivating essential qualities like kindness, empathy, and resilience.

My book, Nurturing Hopeful Resilience,  guides parents and caregivers through the challenges of raising children in a technology-driven age. It explores the importance of instilling strong values in children from a young age to help them develop into compassionate, responsible, and fulfilled individuals.

Through a series of practical exercises and insightful reflections, this book delves into fourteen core values: curiosity, awareness, kindness, learning, self-awareness, fairness, playfulness, compassion, service, belonging, trustworthiness, authenticity, community, and responsibility. Understanding and nurturing these values can empower our children to thrive in a complex and ever-changing world.

This book offers a roadmap for raising children who are academically successful, emotionally intelligent, socially adept, and morally grounded. It encourages readers to prioritize human connection, empathy, and compassion over material possessions and fleeting digital distractions. By embracing the power of values, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.