The death of expertise

About “The death of expertise”

A cult of anti-expertise sentiment has coincided with anti-intellectualism, leading to viral and poorly informed debates on issues like anti-vaccination and attacks on GMOs. Tom Nichols' The Death of Expertise explores reasons for this trend, including easy access to the Internet and a customer satisfaction model in higher education. Technological advances have given people more information than ever, but instead of fostering enlightenment, they have fueled intellectual egalitarianism that undermines informed discussions. Many people believe they are as knowledgeable as experts after a quick search online, and all opinions are seen as equally valid. This has led to a distrust of experts and a threat to democratic institutions. Nichols warns that when people believe no one knows more than anyone else, democracy is at risk of falling to populism or technocracy. The Death of Expertise is both an analysis of a dangerous trend and a warning about the future of democracy in the Information Age.