Tom Nichols wasn't stating the obvious when he penned "The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters", which was published by Oxford University Press. The author wasn't prompting sensible, if not enlightened, readers to press the PANIC button as well. Ignorance became a virtue in American society. If you were a student, then why read it. Why waste time and money in education. Above all, why would you recall your history lessons?
Nichols didn't present earth-shaking facts, which was supposed to lead to Donald Trump's victory during the last US elections. Our Founding Fathers created the United States of America on the principles related to liberty and enlightenment, yet American society seemed to undergo a gradual process of devolution after George Washington was sworn as the first American president. Geography played a part, which might have made Americans more insular than any Western nation. If there was a Renaissance, then New York may have been the Florence of the Western Hemisphere. They won't be a Reformation of any kind, as many parts of the mainland were unchartered territories back then. If ever circumstances were to give American society any chance of experiencing the same events that transformed Western Europe, then it could be a long shot (from happening at all). The war ensured that there won't be any repeat.
Let's move fast forward and examine the seemingly epidemic of anti-rationalism in America. The liberals won't be faulted entirely, as many Americans have egos. (Let's put it in another way. It takes courage to admit a mistake. Anything in plural might be too much.) The Internet had a huge influence as well, as it blurred the line between expertise and public opinion. It would be hard to tell if this could be good at all, as democracy had been the hotbed of everything that Americans would believe in. Everyone is on the same platform, so anyone can have an opinion. It is the truth, a half-truth, even lies as well. And the media might be the few ones who could discern it. Unfortunately, the public has been skeptic about journalists.
Nichols revealed a disturbing fact, of the protective swaddling environment in many universities. You might be unaware of how it infantilized you, so you wonder what you could do about it. Pretend you haven't read this post (and go on with your life). Your concern will be a fleeting moment, as there are more important matters to you. (And it turns out to be superficial in nature.) You remain optimistic about the immediate future, but your mind drifts to the very people who put Trump in the White House. There's no doubt that these Americans aren't living in an insular world anymore, the economy bursting their bubbles a long time ago. Don't expect a revolution, as their attitude can be best described as cherry picking. It's all about convenience.
"The Death of Expertise" suggests something, which would give hope to some of us. There may be another shift after the next presidential elections, but it can happen sooner.
