Donald Robertson

So they had no idea what the stuff they were reading actually meant. And over and over again, they're kind of like just making the kind of mistakes that you would get taught not to make, right? So there are problems that happen. And there are people when they discuss ancient philosophy that make errors that an academic philosopher maybe wouldn't make.

So they had no idea what the stuff they were reading actually meant. And over and over again, they're kind of like just making the kind of mistakes that you would get taught not to make, right? So there are problems that happen. And there are people when they discuss ancient philosophy that make errors that an academic philosopher maybe wouldn't make.

But, yeah, I don't think there's a conclusive answer to this. But, yeah, I think we just need to be aware. I think the best thing is just to kind of be aware of what are the pros and cons. In the same way that, you know, for any self-help technique, just at least sit down and make a list of what are the strengths and weaknesses of this, what's a good way and a bad way of doing it.

But, yeah, I don't think there's a conclusive answer to this. But, yeah, I think we just need to be aware. I think the best thing is just to kind of be aware of what are the pros and cons. In the same way that, you know, for any self-help technique, just at least sit down and make a list of what are the strengths and weaknesses of this, what's a good way and a bad way of doing it.

But, yeah, I don't think there's a conclusive answer to this. But, yeah, I think we just need to be aware. I think the best thing is just to kind of be aware of what are the pros and cons. In the same way that, you know, for any self-help technique, just at least sit down and make a list of what are the strengths and weaknesses of this, what's a good way and a bad way of doing it.

So you've got a slightly more nuanced understanding of it, not just a kind of rigid idea. but I think in generally, you know, this thing about amateurs versus experts is similar. Like there's pros and cons to it. Just knowing what those are is perhaps the main thing.

So you've got a slightly more nuanced understanding of it, not just a kind of rigid idea. but I think in generally, you know, this thing about amateurs versus experts is similar. Like there's pros and cons to it. Just knowing what those are is perhaps the main thing.

So you've got a slightly more nuanced understanding of it, not just a kind of rigid idea. but I think in generally, you know, this thing about amateurs versus experts is similar. Like there's pros and cons to it. Just knowing what those are is perhaps the main thing.

I mean, I can tell you over the years I've, I've, I'm friends with and know many, uh, well-respected academics, historians, classicists, philosophers, um, you know, and I guess my attitude has changed a little bit from my experience over time. Um,

I mean, I can tell you over the years I've, I've, I'm friends with and know many, uh, well-respected academics, historians, classicists, philosophers, um, you know, and I guess my attitude has changed a little bit from my experience over time. Um,

I mean, I can tell you over the years I've, I've, I'm friends with and know many, uh, well-respected academics, historians, classicists, philosophers, um, you know, and I guess my attitude has changed a little bit from my experience over time. Um,

um sometimes there are people that are incredibly highly qualified in the subject and say stuff that's bonkers like that's you know the other experts in the field just think they've lost their mind like you know that again they're making mistakes that a first year student would fail a assignment for for doing right um I mean, it's weird when you see that, but it happens a lot.

um sometimes there are people that are incredibly highly qualified in the subject and say stuff that's bonkers like that's you know the other experts in the field just think they've lost their mind like you know that again they're making mistakes that a first year student would fail a assignment for for doing right um I mean, it's weird when you see that, but it happens a lot.

um sometimes there are people that are incredibly highly qualified in the subject and say stuff that's bonkers like that's you know the other experts in the field just think they've lost their mind like you know that again they're making mistakes that a first year student would fail a assignment for for doing right um I mean, it's weird when you see that, but it happens a lot.

Like, you get books by people that are professors of philosophy or psychology or whatever, and you think a first-year undergraduate student would get lambasted for saying this stuff. It's crazy. But so, you know, they're not... The most highly credentialed people are often not experts. And there's... There's also a well-known problem with expertise.

Like, you get books by people that are professors of philosophy or psychology or whatever, and you think a first-year undergraduate student would get lambasted for saying this stuff. It's crazy. But so, you know, they're not... The most highly credentialed people are often not experts. And there's... There's also a well-known problem with expertise.

Like, you get books by people that are professors of philosophy or psychology or whatever, and you think a first-year undergraduate student would get lambasted for saying this stuff. It's crazy. But so, you know, they're not... The most highly credentialed people are often not experts. And there's... There's also a well-known problem with expertise.

There's actually statistical research that shows that narrative reviews of medical research that are done by experts in a particular field tend to be unreliable. So normally you'd think this guy's like one of the most experienced heart surgeons in the world. Like, so he's written an article reviewing all the research. It should be authoritative because he really knows what he's talking about.

There's actually statistical research that shows that narrative reviews of medical research that are done by experts in a particular field tend to be unreliable. So normally you'd think this guy's like one of the most experienced heart surgeons in the world. Like, so he's written an article reviewing all the research. It should be authoritative because he really knows what he's talking about.

There's actually statistical research that shows that narrative reviews of medical research that are done by experts in a particular field tend to be unreliable. So normally you'd think this guy's like one of the most experienced heart surgeons in the world. Like, so he's written an article reviewing all the research. It should be authoritative because he really knows what he's talking about.