The decline of expertise threatens democracy from "summary" of The Death of Expertise by Thomas M. Nichols
One of the most pressing challenges facing modern democracies is the erosion of trust in experts and expertise. As society becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the need for specialized knowledge and skills has never been greater. Yet, paradoxically, expertise is being devalued and dismissed in favor of emotional reasoning and ideological purity. This dangerous trend is driven by a combination of factors, including the democratization of information through the internet and social media, the rise of anti-intellectualism, and the politicization of knowledge. The decline of expertise poses a serious threat to democracy because it undermines our ability to make informed decisions about complex policy issues. When experts are no longer respected or listened to, policy debates devolve into shouting matches based on ideology rather than evidence. This leads to the spread of misinformation and the ...
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