Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    Why Expertise Matters

    We need to become insistent on the value of knowing things — and the value of recognizing when others know what we do not, says astrophysicist Adam Frank.
    by Adam Frank Apr 07, 2017 4 minutes
    Source: Getty Images/iStockphoto

    I am an expert — a card-carrying, credential-bearing expert.

    Of course, there are only a few hundred people on the planet who care about the thing I'm an expert on: the death of stars like the sun. But, nonetheless, if the death of stars like the sun is something you want to know about, I'm one of the folks to call. I tell you this not to brag or make my mom proud, but because expertise has been getting a bad rap lately. It's worth a moment of our time to understand exactly why this "death of expertise" is happening — and what it means for the world.

    The attack on expertise was given its, "people in this country have had enough of ." The same kinds of issues, however, are also at stake here in the U.S. in our discussions about "alternative facts," "fake news" and "denial" of various kinds. That issue can be put as a simple question: When does one opinion count more than another?

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR5 min readWorld
    Violence Erupts At UCLA As Protests Over Israel's War In Gaza Escalate Across The U.S.
    Members of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups in Los Angeles clashed, with reports of fireworks and pepper spray use. Elsewhere, universities are tearing down encampments and arresting students.
    NPR3 min readAmerican Government
    NPR Poll: Democrats Fear Fascism, And Republicans Worry About A Lack Of Values
    A new 2024 election poll from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist shows fundamental divides over concerns for America's future and what to teach the next generation.
    NPR2 min readFinance & Money Management
    Fed Keeps Interest Rates At 23-year High
    The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, as inflation remained stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target. Investors now think it could be September or later before rates start to fall.

    Related Books & Audiobooks