Professor Will Davies discusses the decline of expertise in society, the rise of valuing emotions over facts, the historical context of fake news and post-truth, the critique of technocratic expertise, the concept of a 'nervous state' in modern democracies, and the virtue signaling and tactical debates in public discourse.
Challenges faced by traditional expertise due to factors like anti-vaxxers and fake news, highlighting the decline of The Expert.
Shift towards valuing feelings over facts in societal discourse linked to the rise of fake news and post-truth culture, showcasing subjective perceptions overriding empirical evidence.
Deep dives
Decline of The Expert
The decline of The Expert is highlighted in the discussion, emphasizing challenges faced by traditional expertise due to factors like anti-vaxxers and fake news. Criticisms from both left and right are examined, tracing back to the origin and history of the concept of expertise, revealing a complicated evolution.
Feeling Over Facts
The podcast delves into the shift towards valuing feelings over facts in societal discourse, exemplifying instances where emotions and subjective interpretations take precedence over objective truths. This trend is linked to the rise of fake news and post-truth culture, portraying how subjective perceptions often outweigh empirical evidence.
Challenge to Expertise
A critical examination of expertise is presented, discussing how skepticism towards experts stems from an ideological perspective, especially on issues like poverty rates and economic policies. The complexity of balancing trust in expert knowledge while acknowledging interpretational biases is explored, highlighting the nuanced stance required in navigating expert opinions.
Evolution of Expertise
The podcast delves into the historical development of expertise from the 17th century scientific revolution, emphasizing the inception of expert communities based on data analytics and standardized methods. Insights into how expertise evolved into an elite entity with neocolonial dimensions, intertwined with societal functions such as the insurance industry, are provided.
We talk with Professor Will Davies about the invention of the expert and their recent decline.
More info about "Nervous States: Democracy and the Decline of Reason" here: https://bit.ly/2ESCmzU
Logo Design: Shane Lessa
Theme Song: Fender Bender by Bad Snacks
Host: Alec Opperman
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