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Expertise can sometimes lead to closedmindedness from "summary" of Ignorância by Stuart Firestein
The more we know about a subject, the more likely we are to become closed-minded about it. The expert in a particular field has become more comfortable with what he or she knows. It's not that experts aren't curious or open-minded, but the trouble is they are less likely to be surprised. They have a great deal invested in their area of expertise. The expert in a subject knows what questions are important and what questions are not. This is a good thing, but it also means that the expert is less likely to be surprised by the answers. The expert's knowledge has become a scaffolding, a structure that supports further learning. But sometimes, that structure can become a cage. It's not easy to get outside the cage that one has so carefully constructed. The accumulation of knowledge is a good thing, of course. But it can also lead to complacency. Experts have a great deal of knowledge, but they also have a great deal of ignorance. The more we know, the more we realize we don't know. Expertise is, in a sense, a form of ignorance. It is a narrowing of focus. The expert knows more and more about less and less. And sometimes, that can lead to closed-mindedness. The expert tends to see the world in a certain way, and it can be difficult to see it in any other way. The expert's knowledge can become a barrier to further understanding. The expert is not always the best person to ask about a particular topic. Sometimes, it's better to ask someone who knows less. Ignorance can be a virtue. The novice is not burdened by preconceived notions or biases. The novice is open to new ideas, new ways of thinking. The novice is not afraid to ask questions that the expert might never think to ask. The novice is not constrained by what he or she already knows. So, expertise can sometimes lead to closed-mindedness. But it doesn't have to be that way. Experts can overcome their own expertise. They can step outside their own cage of knowledge. They can be open to new ideas, new ways of thinking. They can embrace their own ignorance. And in doing so, they can continue to learn and grow.
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