Beware of the "Expert"

[DaveC]

An interesting article about how perceiving yourself as an expert (whether it's true or not) makes you closed-minded:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/expert-closed-minded_563369bbe4b00aa54a4db53a

So-called "experts" are often dogmatic in their beliefs and it become more of a religion, notice how objectivist "experts" are mostly unwilling to experiment with tweaks they think can't make a difference. They look to their basic education as a religious devotee looks up to their imaginary god. Even as an engineer I realize my education just scratches the surface of the subjects I learned about, but some believe this is the end-all, be-all of technical knowledge when the truth is anyone good at memorizing information can get a degree these days. True understanding is not a requirement, I've had bosses that lead an engineering department who don't understand how calculus works. The closed-minded attitude that is unwilling to experiment is the antithesis of scientific thinking imo.

 

[asindc]

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."

Albert Einstein, (attributed)
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

 

[sheltiedave]

I'm sorry, but that smacks too close to the current mantra of the political discussion of "good science" vs plain old regular science. An open mind is not an open mind if you don't have any grasp whatsoever of the fundamental physics and material science that create the product.

an open mind with an ability to separate bs from truth, and a great ear, get you to a good place.

 

[BlueFox]

An interesting article about how perceiving yourself as an expert (whether it's true or not) makes you closed-minded:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/expert-closed-minded_563369bbe4b00aa54a4db53a

So-called "experts" are often dogmatic in their beliefs and it become more of a religion, notice how objectivist "experts" are mostly unwilling to experiment with tweaks they think can't make a difference. They look to their basic education as a religious devotee looks up to their imaginary god. Even as an engineer I realize my education just scratches the surface of the subjects I learned about, but some believe this is the end-all, be-all of technical knowledge when the truth is anyone good at memorizing information can get a degree these days. True understanding is not a requirement, I've had bosses that lead an engineering department who don't understand how calculus works. The closed-minded attitude that is unwilling to experiment is the antithesis of scientific thinking imo.

I agree. I have found over the years that, in general, the more an engineer thinks they know the worse they are, or the more problems they cause. The better engineers realize they know next to nothing, and usually do good work.

 

[DaveC]

I agree. I have found over the years that, in general, the more an engineer thinks they know the worse they are, or the more problems they cause. The better engineers realize they know next to nothing, and usually do good work.

Yeah... not to brag but when working for Vestas I was told by a few people I was the most technically gifted engineer they had ever worked with and I couldn't believe it, I told them I really didn't feel like I knew much. Engineers that think they always have the best solution are very difficult to work with, and there are a lot of them that have this attitude... I am happiest working for myself, less energy goes into managing relationships and more into actually getting things done.