The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters

The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters

Thomas M. Nichols, Tom Nichols

3.83(9213 readers)
Building on his enormously successful first edition, Tom Nichols confirms his thesis that events, such as the COVID pandemic, prove that the assault on expertise has only intensified.

Fully updated chapters continue to address how technology and increasing levels of education have exposed people to more information than ever before. These societal gains, however, have also helped fuel a surge in narcissistic and misguided intellectual egalitarianism that has crippled informed debates on any number of issues. Over the past several years, the rise of populism and conspiracy theories have taken this to new levels. All voices, even the most ridiculous, demand to be taken with equal seriousness, and any claim to the contrary is dismissed as undemocratic elitism.

Tom Nichols' The Death of Expertise , Second Edition, follows up on how this rejection of experts has the openness of the internet, the emergence of a customer satisfaction model in higher education, the transformation of the news industry into a 24-hour entertainment machine, and importantly, the election of Donald Trump. Paradoxically, the increasingly democratic dissemination of information, rather than producing an educated public, has instead created an army of ill-informed and angry citizens who denounce intellectual achievement. When ordinary citizens believe that no one knows more than anyone else, democratic institutions themselves are in danger of falling either to populism or to technocracy or, in the worst case, a combination of both.

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Publication Date

4/3/2024

ISBN

9780197763827

Pages

334

Categories

Social Sciences

About the Author

Thomas M. Nichols

Thomas M. Nichols

Dr. Thomas M. Nichols is a professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College and an adjunct professor in the Harvard Extension School. He also taught at Dartmouth College, Georgetown University (where he earned his PhD), and other schools and lecture programs.

He is currently a Senior Associate of the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, and a Fellow of the International History Institute at Boston University.

He has also been a Fellow of the International Security Program and the Project on Managing the Atom at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

In his Washington days, Professor Nichols was a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a consultant to the U.S. government, and a research analyst for private industry. Later, he served as personal staff for foreign and defense affairs to the late U.S. Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania

Questions & Answers

The primary reasons for the decline in trust and respect for experts include:

  1. Digital Revolution and Social Media: The internet and social media have facilitated the spread of misinformation and the cult of ignorance, making it easier for individuals to dismiss expert knowledge.
  2. Higher Education: The shift towards treating education as client service and the erosion of respect for authority in higher education have contributed to a lack of deference to experts.
  3. 24/7 News Cycle: The constant flow of information and the emphasis on entertainment over factual accuracy in media have led to misinformed public opinion.
  4. Misconceptions of Equality: The illusion of egalitarianism created by social media and the belief that everyone is equally intelligent or informed has undermined respect for expertise.
  5. Lack of Understanding of Government: Many citizens lack an understanding of their own government and its functioning, leading to distrust of experts and elected officials.

The internet and social media have significantly contributed to the decline of expertise by fostering a culture of misinformation and undermining the credibility of experts. The vast amount of information available online, much of it unverified, leads to confusion and a misperception of knowledge. This abundance of information, often presented without context, can make individuals feel they possess expertise simply by searching online, thus diminishing the value of professional knowledge.

Social media exacerbates this issue by creating echo chambers where users are more likely to encounter information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs, rather than challenging them. This reinforcement of biases leads to a lack of critical thinking and an increased resistance to expert opinions. Additionally, the immediacy and informal nature of social media communication can lead to a lack of respect for experts and their expertise, as interactions become more about personal validation than factual accuracy.

The education system plays a significant role in the decline of expertise. Firstly, grade inflation and the overemphasis on attendance and customer service rather than rigorous learning contribute to students graduating without a true understanding of their subjects. This leads to a workforce that lacks critical thinking and respect for expertise. Secondly, the rise of "helicopter parenting" and the culture of entitlement among students undermine the teacher-student dynamic, further diminishing the value of expertise. Lastly, the shift from traditional education to online learning, which often lacks the structure and guidance necessary for deep learning, exacerbates the problem. These factors collectively weaken the foundation of expertise and critical thinking in society.

The anti-intellectualism trend significantly impacts democracy and public discourse by fostering distrust in expertise and established knowledge. This skepticism leads to a breakdown in the relationship between experts and citizens, undermining the democratic process. In public discourse, the trend promotes a culture where every opinion is considered equally valid, regardless of factual basis or expertise. This diminishes the value of evidence-based discussions and rational analysis, leading to polarized debates and a decline in the quality of public policy. Additionally, the trend encourages a narcissistic belief in personal superiority, where individuals dismiss expert advice and facts that contradict their beliefs, further eroding the foundation of informed democracy.

To restore trust in experts and foster informed decision-making, several measures can be taken:

  1. Enhance Education: Promote critical thinking and media literacy in schools to help citizens discern credible information from misinformation.
  2. Transparent Communication: Experts should communicate complex issues clearly and avoid jargon, making their advice accessible to the public.
  3. Accountability: Establish mechanisms for holding experts accountable for their advice, including peer review and transparency in their methodologies.
  4. Diverse Representation: Ensure that expert panels and advisory groups are diverse, reflecting a range of perspectives and experiences.
  5. Media Responsibility: Encourage journalists to fact-check and verify information, and to avoid sensationalism that can undermine trust in experts.
  6. Public Engagement: Encourage public dialogue on complex issues, allowing experts to present their views and citizens to voice their concerns.
  7. Policy Support: Governments should support policies that promote evidence-based decision-making and invest in research and development.
  8. Digital Literacy: Educate the public on the risks of misinformation online and how to critically evaluate online sources.

By implementing these strategies, trust in experts can be rebuilt, and a culture of informed decision-making can be fostered.

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