Is all authority illegitimate? I wonder about experts in fields and experiential based authority. Like I think we should listen to epidemiologists and immunologists more than farmer Joe who might be a great guy and down to Earth but is not an expert on vaccines. Even in a socialist or communist society, where he is not spouting harmful rhetoric, he still objectively knows less than a doctor in said field.
Same for energy and power plants. I would trust a nuclear physicist or engineer in that field and topic, more than someone who has nothing to do with said field.
That doesn’t mean they then get to be a boss or set up an arbitrary hierarchy but there is objectively some form of authoritative voice there in their field.
Many people take the idea that “everyone is entitled to their opinion” too far, and it turns into “everyone is entitled to their facts”
Humans are feelings driven, so they’re more likely to go with what their friend says than some mean scientist who makes them feel bad. The inability of people to put aside their feelings is part of why we’re in this mess.
Is all authority illegitimate? I wonder about experts in fields and experiential based authority. Like I think we should listen to epidemiologists and immunologists more than farmer Joe who might be a great guy and down to Earth but is not an expert on vaccines. Even in a socialist or communist society, where he is not spouting harmful rhetoric, he still objectively knows less than a doctor in said field.
Same for energy and power plants. I would trust a nuclear physicist or engineer in that field and topic, more than someone who has nothing to do with said field.
That doesn’t mean they then get to be a boss or set up an arbitrary hierarchy but there is objectively some form of authoritative voice there in their field.
Many people take the idea that “everyone is entitled to their opinion” too far, and it turns into “everyone is entitled to their facts”
Humans are feelings driven, so they’re more likely to go with what their friend says than some mean scientist who makes them feel bad. The inability of people to put aside their feelings is part of why we’re in this mess.