Have we fallen out of love with experts? Ian Katz reports - BBC Newsnight

Summary

The video script delves into the post-Brexit skepticism towards experts in Britain, questioning the public's trust in specialized knowledge. It highlights Michael Gove's controversial statement, suggesting a shift from reliance on experts to a more populist stance. The script explores the implications for various fields, including economics and science, and discusses the potential dangers of dismissing expert advice. It also touches on the role of the internet in democratizing access to information and the public's ability to question authority, reflecting a broader debate on the value of expertise in a democratic society.

Takeaways

• 😷 The Brexit vote was a significant blow to the intellectual elite in Britain who had favored staying in the EU.
• 🗣️ Michael Gove's comment about people being tired of experts reflects a broader skepticism towards expertise, with potential implications for societal trust in institutions.
• 🧐 There is a growing public sentiment that experts are not always right, which can lead to questioning their advice on critical issues like climate change and public health.
• 📉 Economic forecasts made by experts prior to Brexit were largely incorrect, which has contributed to the erosion of trust in their predictions.
• 🤔 The role of experts in society is being reevaluated, with some arguing that their authority is being undermined, while others see this as a healthy challenge to orthodoxy.
• 💡 The internet has democratized access to information, allowing the public to question experts' knowledge and leading to a more informed, yet skeptical, populace.
• 🔍 The media and politicians often oversimplify or distort expert opinions, which can contribute to public mistrust.
• 🏛️ The script suggests that there might be a historical precedent for the current anti-expert sentiment, drawing parallels to pre-Enlightenment attitudes.
• 🌍 The script implies that the anti-expert trend could have global implications, referencing the 'post-fact' society observed in the United States under President Trump.
• 👨‍🏫 There is a call for a more nuanced understanding of the role of experts, recognizing their fallibility while also valuing their contributions to evidence-based policy and decision-making.

Q & A

What was the significance of June 24th in the context of the script?

June 24th was significant as it marked the day after the Brexit vote, which was a major event that challenged the opinions and predictions of many experts in Britain.

Who were some of the groups that were mentioned as being against Brexit according to the script?

The script mentioned that the Bank of England, the IFS, the IMF, the CBI, and most of the leaders of the trade unions in Britain were against Brexit.

What did Michael Gove's soundbite about experts imply, as discussed in the script?

Michael Gove's soundbite implied a skepticism towards experts and their opinions, suggesting that their knowledge and predictions might not always be accurate or reliable.

What was the 'trickle-down economics' machine mentioned in the script, and what does it represent?

The 'trickle-down economics' machine, built by Bill Phillips, is a contraption that uses water flows to model the behavior of the British economy. It represents a mechanistic view of economics, suggesting that people will behave predictably like molecules in a test-tube.

How did the script suggest that the internet has impacted the role of experts?

The script suggests that the internet has given people access to a vast amount of information, which has diminished the respect for experts as people can now find 'expert' knowledge more easily.

What was the view of the script on the role of experts in policy-making and society?

The script expressed concern that the dismissal of experts could have negative implications for fields like medicine, intelligence, and economics, and that experts are essential for the proper running of society and policy development.

What was the script's perspective on the public's trust in experts after the Brexit vote?

The script indicated that the public's trust in experts was shaken after the Brexit vote, as many experts' predictions about its consequences were proven wrong.

What did the script suggest about the public's ability to discern expert advice?

The script suggested that the public may be more skeptical of expert advice, and it raised the question of whether laypeople can accurately assess complex issues like climate change or vaccine safety.

How did the script describe the potential consequences of dismissing expert advice?

The script described the potential consequences as dangerous, suggesting that dismissing expert advice could lead to a post-fact society, where decisions are made without proper reasoning or evidence.

What was the script's stance on the role of experts in the context of the Enlightenment?

The script mentioned that the Enlightenment involved challenging experts, particularly priests, suggesting that questioning authority and seeking knowledge independently is a part of intellectual progress.

What was the script's view on the public's skepticism towards experts being healthy or not?

The script presented differing views, with some characters suggesting that skepticism is healthy as it encourages critical thinking, while others fear it could lead to a disregard for evidence-based knowledge.