How important are the opinions of experts in the search for knowledge?
The essence of the Q: We all have opinions and, most of us would agree, are entitled to have them and to express them. But how does this help or hinder our search for knowledge? Firstly, reflect on the idea of the 'expert' - this is an authority figure whom we commonly trust and rely on to advise, guide and give us an insight into truth. Who is the ultimate authority figure? Next, you'll have to think about the contrast between 'opinions' and 'knowledge' and how we make the move from the former to the latter. Thirdly, you'll have to consider how people become experts or authorities in the first place. Don't be mislead by the phrasing of the Q and only focus on the idea of 'opinions' - is it expert opinion that influences our search for knowledge or expert knowledge or skills or understanding? What are expert opinions grounded on? Make a profile of different experts in different fields as part of a plan for the essay and observe what similarities and differences you find. We look to, and rely on, experts in all fields of knowledge. Why? Is it enough to say we 'know' something based on what the experts tell us? What more is needed to justify our knowledge claims? Even the experts can be biased or sometimes wrong. We all make mistakes. Try to reflect also on whether it's possible that non-experts can also somehow influence the search for knowledge. What is it that a non-expert brings in the search for knowledge? Essentially, keep at the front of your mind the question: what do we need in order to acquire knowledge? The answer is EVIDENCE. What kind of evidence do experts put forward in the search for knowledge? What gives this evidence its force?
Knowledge Issues: What role do opinions play in the acuisition of knowledge? To what extent is an expert's opinion reliable? How far are we right to trust an expert's opinions? In what ways is the search for knowledge enhanced by experts? And prevented? What are the limitations of an expert's opinions? How do you acquire expertise in a particular field of knowledge? To what extent is expert knowledge infallible? How far does an expert's language confuse (or improve) our search for knowledge? To what extent are the opinions of experts immune to cultural bias and conflict? In what ways do experts transcend bias and conflict?
Approaches: As usual, try to limit yourselfves to 3-4 different AOKs when approaching the KIs you've identified.
Mathematics: You'd think that expert Mathematicians had no time for 'opinions' - maths prides itself on logic and reason and the ability to overcome the influence of personal emotion or opinion in its processes. Does opinion play any part in the search for Mathematical knowledge?
Natural Sciences: You could argue that a scientific hypothesis is merely an 'opinion' until the scientist has found evidence to support the hypothesis. Or you could reflect on the more accepted version of the scientific method as a process of 'falsification'.
Human Sciences: This AOK is a mine of experts in all kinds of fields from politics to psychology and economics to sociology. What kind of evidence do they provide to support their opinions and why do we trust them? Are certain experts more trustworthy than others? Why?
History: Historical experts seem to thrive on the conflicts between their opinions about events in their search for knowledge and better understanding of the past. The same event can attract vastly different opinions. Can this have a detrimental effect on our search for knowledge?
Arts: What do the experts really know about art? If, as most people assume, the Arts are the most subject of the AOKs, then surely an expert's opinion counts no more than a non-expert's when judging whether or not a work of art is good. Does an expert's opinion give us a better insight into the quality of art works? How so?
Ethics: Are there any experts in this field? Perhaps it depends on the nature of the problem. We might go to a legal expert if we had a moral problem regarding the law; a medical expert if we had a moral dilemma relating to health; and so on. Why do we so easily rely on these experts? Is it because we don't trust ourselves; we need an authority figure to show us the way?
