Fantastic post. I love the concept of uncertainty in almost every aspect of life. Open-mindedness reduces stress and encourages growth. Nothing wrong with beliefs and opinions assuming you can maintain rational control when they’re challenged. If not, good opportunity for reflection or the great suggestions you made like dueling books!
Interestingly, dunning kruger has nothing to do with intelligence. Some of the smartest people I know, experts in their areas, when asked to opine outside of knowelge, suffer from DK as badly as anyone else and often worse because they are experts in something.
Yes. I suspect there's a huge danger zone among scientific subject matter experts opining in areas adjacent to their expertise, or on scientific matters broadly. Perhaps because they know how to interpret data and read studies they assume they can pick up everything relevant in a few hours of browsing.
They'll be very careful and nuanced in what they say in their area of expertise, but make broad authoritative claims outside of it.
But I wonder if this impression is formed because these are people who are "science spokespeople" who would lose relevance without something spicy to say about everything the media asks them about, or who have to come up with content on their podcasts, etc .
Fantastic post. I love the concept of uncertainty in almost every aspect of life. Open-mindedness reduces stress and encourages growth. Nothing wrong with beliefs and opinions assuming you can maintain rational control when they’re challenged. If not, good opportunity for reflection or the great suggestions you made like dueling books!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I like this. I often feel that I have to have an opinion. Time to rethink. Thank you.
That's the best outcome I could hope for! Glad it struck you.
A little Socratic self-doubt goes a very long way to earning a bit of wisdom. Great post, Andrew.
Interestingly, dunning kruger has nothing to do with intelligence. Some of the smartest people I know, experts in their areas, when asked to opine outside of knowelge, suffer from DK as badly as anyone else and often worse because they are experts in something.
Yes. I suspect there's a huge danger zone among scientific subject matter experts opining in areas adjacent to their expertise, or on scientific matters broadly. Perhaps because they know how to interpret data and read studies they assume they can pick up everything relevant in a few hours of browsing.
They'll be very careful and nuanced in what they say in their area of expertise, but make broad authoritative claims outside of it.
But I wonder if this impression is formed because these are people who are "science spokespeople" who would lose relevance without something spicy to say about everything the media asks them about, or who have to come up with content on their podcasts, etc .
BINGO !!! 👍👍👍
Highly educated people
- know a lot about very little,
- think their chosen topic is the navel of the universe and
- are extremely unpalatable, dangerous creatures outside of their academic field ...
B E W A R E !!!
In addition:
NO academic degree is any guarantee for personal integrity or character; a sad fact that makes them even MORE dangerous !!!