Authority, Trust, and Source of Truth
Better Start Thinking
Synopsis:
Verifying information in the modern world presents a more complicated barrier than at times in the past. Specifically, reliance on authority -- in the sense of knowledge on a subject -- has become susceptible to natural degradation due to factors such as the profluence of information, availability of that same information, and the narrowness of many areas of knowledge.
There is a balance in how we come to rely on information, and the individuals who claim some form of authority over that information. We cannot ignore the validity of expertise, but neither can we assume the correctness of any one individual, no matter how knowledgeable. Striking a chord between the two extremes on this issue will be a necessary skill in the modern world of information.
Related reading:
519603774 Bytes