Week 15 Response - Limiting the Power of Experts

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This post is in response to the question, “Have we given too much power to experts in our society? Should we question them more?” by @newtonquach.

We, as a society, place a lot of faith in the hands of experts. For some professions this is a much bigger concern than for others. For example, it is easier to trust a craftsman to build a sturdy chair than it is to trust a scientist recommending an experiential treatment. The difference is the amount of risk associated with trusting the scientists expertise. We do not have a lot to lose when we try out a new chair for the first time. The methods used to create the chair are relatively common and tested - even if the final result is a new innovation. There needs to be some sort of required cross-referencing between the experts for matters as serious as innovative treatments. While this is simply an example, the same can be said for all fields of expertise. Before we place all of our faith in experts, we must first weigh the risks associated with our decisions.

I believe that experts in today’s society have a lot of power, but they also face a lot of scrutiny. With the power of technology and social media platforms, we are more easily able to fact-check, share ideas, and even judge one another. I think that this has played an important role in limiting the power of experts. It is hard for any expert to share their expertise without millions of strangers chiming in. The only problem with using the media to share this information is that not all platforms portray information accurately. If there was a universal, free-speech platform for everyone to share information, then I believe we would be better off as a society.