“The Expert” is One that can be of great value to those that require and rely on the information and understanding that “The Expert” can provide. They themself have most likely investigated and researched the field in which they are proficient for a considerable amount of time and have presumably developed a solid understanding, along with a strong foundation of knowledge, from those endeavours.
However, not all Experts are created equal and not all Experts motivations are always honourable, regardless of any claims made. So, these then are factors which must be taken into consideration whenever evaluating the information and advice from “The Expert”.
“The Expert” that functions from a core of integrity and principle will be aware of and acknowledge the limitations of their own understanding. They will offer insights and perspectives with no requirement that others must abide by the information or advice they impart.
Censorship is not something they would endorse either, because allowing the free flow of ideas and opinions helps correct errors and refines understanding. Even absurd and outlandish perspectives should not be suppressed, given that only when expressed openly, does the opportunity arise to show them to be illegitimate.
“The Expert” that may be operating under ulterior motives will often be presented, or present themself, as the “go to authority” in a particular field and that their pronouncements must be followed and adhered to without question.
These are also the type that will eagerly seek censorship of contrary viewpoints, because they are fully aware that they cannot successfully debunk opposing perspectives, due to their information being based on contrivances, not actual facts and reason.
To assume that all Experts are unbiased, facts-based puritans, that can never be unduly coerced or influenced in their opinions, is insanely naive. “The Expert” can be influenced by economic, ideological, corporate and political factors, or their prejudices could simply stem from a base desire for social status.
“The Expert’s” area of proficiency can not only be used to clarify understanding in a certain topic, but it can also be used to skew and misdirect any discussion should there be a sinister motivation on their part. Especially when being questioned by those that may not be as well informed on the subject under scrutiny. They are often used to provide the intellectual cover and justification for insane policies or courses of action that political actors may wish to pursue.
When political or corporate players roll out “The Expert”, either overtly or covertly, to substantiate their authoritarian positions, alarm bells should sound loudly in all those that may be affected. For “The Expert” is the new battering ram that is used to smash any dissension that may be in the way of an oncoming tyranny.
Good Ideas do not need
to be imposed onto Others.
Good Ideas naturally
spread themselves.
But the fundamental reason to not just automatically comply with “The Expert”, is that “The Expert” could simply be wrong.
If an individual makes a decision based on a lack of understanding and that poor decision has catastrophic consequences, then the outcome would only affect that individual and possibly their family or community, depending on their sphere of influence.
When a small centralized ruling class of a large population makes a decision that turns catastrophic, then the fallout effects the entire population, whether all the members of the population willingly participated or not.
These rulers and their “Experts” will often claim that the issues they are responding to could have drastic effects on the whole population, but quite often these assertions are vastly exaggerated to drum up political support for their authoritarian actions.
The failures of course, are never the fault of the authoritarians, there is always some other group or some other circumstance that is invariably responsible and “The Experts” will be paraded around to attest to this official and “correct” version of events, no matter how absurd.
In the end, false Experts and their authoritarian handlers have the potential to destroy entire societies and often do.
What I do, is for the greater good.
The Tyrant’s Mantra
