Tom Nichols

The Death of Expertise

1. IDEA 1

   Many people now dismiss experts

   Nichols argues that many Americans have come to reject expert knowledge, treating every opinion as equally valid. He sees this not as healthy scepticism but as a dangerous refusal to accept that some people know more about certain subjects.

2. IDEA 2

   The least skilled feel most sure

   Nichols discusses the Dunning-Kruger effect, the finding that people with little knowledge often overrate their own ability. Lacking skill, they also lack the skill to notice their mistakes. This makes the problem hard to see from the inside.

3. IDEA 3

   People seek what confirms them

   Nichols explains confirmation bias, the tendency to notice evidence that supports what we already believe. He argues this makes it easy to dismiss experts who disagree with us. Few people enjoy being told they are wrong.

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