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

Let me take you back to a time when the word of a doctor, scientist, or engineer was as good as gold. Imagine a world where the people who put a man on the moon were trusted to guide us in every realm of public life, from medicine to foreign policy. This was not so long ago—just a few generations past. In those days, society’s faith in expertise was nearly unshakeable, built on the foundation of visible progress and shared confidence in the promise of modernity. The division of labor was clear: experts solved the hard problems, and the rest of us benefited from their wisdom.

But as time passed, the seeds of doubt began to take root. The world watched as experts made mistakes—sometimes catastrophic ones. The tragedy of thalidomide, the quagmire of Vietnam, and economic crises all served as reminders that even the most credentialed among us could be fallible. These failures were not just blips on the radar; they became cautionary tales that slowly eroded the once-solid foundation of trust.

Yet, the shift was not merely about mistakes. It was also about a changing culture. As society grew more individualistic, a new narrative emerged: the idea that each person’s opinion was as valid as any expert’s view. Populist sentiment, fueled by a desire for autonomy and self-assertion, began to challenge the authority of those who had long been seen as the stewards of knowledge.

In this environment, skepticism flourished. It became fashionable to question, to doubt, even to reject outright the advice of experts. What began as healthy inquiry soon morphed into a prideful ignorance—a badge of honor for those who refused to be ‘talked down to’ by so-called elites.

And so, the gentle rise of expertise gave way to a tumultuous fall. The consequences of this shift are profound, touching every aspect of our lives. As we move forward, we must ask: what happens to a society that no longer trusts those who know more? How does this new landscape shape our conversations and decisions?

Let’s journey now into the world of communication, where the breakdown between experts and the public becomes even more pronounced, and discover how our minds sometimes trip us up on the path to understanding.