We rely on experts so much of the time, but what if they are wrong? Author and journalist David Freedman says experts, however well qualified, often don’t get things right. In fact, generally it’s the law of probability that makes them draw an accurate conclusion.
David Freedman discusses his theory in his book “Wrong: Why experts keep failing us — and how to know when not to trust them“.
He could be wrong, of course, and he admits scientists are still our best bet, even though they often get things wrong. His book is aimed at making people aware of the potential problem and to not always take an expert at their word.
In the end it all gets down to managing risk. When you take the advice of an expert, always consider the consequences if they are wrong.
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