Expert

[MorganaFang]

What makes anyone an "expert" at anything?

Can an expert really "exist"?

Could anyone here be called an "expert"?

[Overlord Lycan]

who knows, could you be an expert, could I be,
Ask the questions that have the answers
And then you`ll find what you seek :D

[MorganaFang]

who knows, could you be an expert, could I be,
Ask the questions that have the answers
And then you`ll find what you seek :D
LOL This IS a philosophy forum and according to my philosophy no question ever has the right answers. My questions only serve for debate.

[Xzengrim]

I believe that an expert is a person whose knowledge of a particular topic is high above normal. So high, in fact, that others will seek the expert out because they themselves are simply NOT capable of attaining a level of knowledge persuant with the expert's.

In that respect, it is said that Xzengrim is an expert in the following fields: Rock and roll music, sequential art, Stephen King books, and possibly lycanthropy. Ask me anything!

[Aquilan]

Ok... What... is... umm... OK! What is the sound of one Dark tower clapping to classic rock on a full moon inside an art museum? And don't tell me: Kwwoaugahgoah. Seriosly though, an expert is a person who knows most of the information on a particular topic, and a true expert knows 99.9% of it. In a few rare cases, usually with simple topics, you will find someone who knows it all. :/

[Hellcat]

The word expert seems to be a label that is attatched to people who have specialist knowledge in something. I am more knowledgable in animal bones than the average person. Some people may chose to label me as an expert, however since I know that there are people out there that know more about bones than myself I would say the word expert is misplaced, I don't feel like an expert. I may know my foramen magnum from my acetabulum, and I may be able to differentiate a bank vole skull from a field vole skull, but that by no means makes me an expert. My definition of expert would be someone who knows a great deal about a subject and rarely, if ever make mistakes in their field of knowledge.

[Klark]

What makes anyone an "expert" at anything?

Can an expert really "exist"?

Could anyone here be called an "expert"?

1) IMO, an expert is one who knows the past and present data of whatever subject they are an expert at. They are most up to date with the subject as well. You shouldn't be able to stump an expert, though I will say that there is a chance of doing so.

2)Yes and no, I don't think that anyone is capable of keeping up with the fast pace of information flow to maintain the status of expert for very long, though I think it's attainable for short periods of time.

3) Yes, I'm an expert at me. :D

[The God of the Blade]

The word expert seems to be a label that is attatched to people who have specialist knowledge in something. I am more knowledgable in animal bones than the average person. Some people may chose to label me as an expert, however since I know that there are people out there that know more about bones than myself I would say the word expert is misplaced, I don't feel like an expert. I may know my foramen magnum from my acetabulum, and I may be able to differentiate a bank vole skull from a field vole skull, but that by no means makes me an expert. My definition of expert would be someone who knows a great deal about a subject and rarely, if ever make mistakes in their field of knowledge.

Thats the practical meaning of an expert. Dunno if Klark already said some of this previously, but I think an expert cannot exist. Someone can proclaim themselves an expert, but a true expert must know everythngt their chosen subject. And I believe no-one can know everything about anything. Something impossibly small will have connections in places, and they will have connections, and they will have connections, and they will... and so on. So in my [I]personal theorising process, I beleive an expert must know everything about everything. But then that will have connections, and so will that, and that, and of course that... You get the point. Thts what I believe, anyway.

[Teej]

I think expert is usually a self-titled position. Get to know a few facts, sound like you know what you're talking about, and presto, you have home-made expert.

Some experts do know what they're talking about, though, I'll admit that.

[Hellcat]

I think expert is usually a self-titled position. Get to know a few facts, sound like you know what you're talking about, and presto, you have home-made expert.

Some experts do know what they're talking about, though, I'll admit that.

So what your saying is that the word expert is a polite term for big head?

[Teej]

Well, obviously there are people out there who know what they're doing. But I'd say a little more than half the people out there claiming to be experts are really bigheads, and have done little actual studying of what they are experts on.

[LV426]

While there are people that can be termed experts, very few actually can live up to the expectation and fall quite short of expert even though they may be well learned.

As Teej said, most experts are self proclaimed especially in fields that have no concrete data on which to base their information.

As I see it there are no true experts only people that others consider an expert because of their vast knowledge of particular subjects, yet still there is always some information that can appear and negate the expert's expert status.

So basically, no, there are to true experts.

[Hellcat]

I'm inclined to agree. It seems an "expert" is either a self proclaimed big head, or he/she is awarded the title "expert" by those who have great respect for an individuals knowledge in a subject, thus any so-called expert is only such by opinion, be it their own, or persons who respect their knowledge.

[WhiteCrowUK]

As I see it there are no true experts only people that others consider an expert because of their vast knowledge of particular subjects, yet still there is always some information that can appear and negate the expert's expert status.

So basically, no, there are to true experts.

And this coming from a self-proclaimed God??? :D

[WhiteCrowUK]

I'm inclined to agree. It seems an "expert" is either a self proclaimed big head, or he/she is awarded the title "expert" by those who have great respect for an individuals knowledge in a subject, thus any so-called expert is only such by opinion, be it their own, or persons who respect their knowledge.

I guess the application of the term is all relative.

I am more "expert" than you in the world of programming (oh at least I hope so), though I work with people more "expert" than me.

You similarly are more expert than me when it comes to skull-diggery things. Actually, what do you do with all the skulls you collect???

[Hellcat]

I guess the application of the term is all relative.

I am more "expert" than you in the world of programming (oh at least I hope so), though I work with people more "expert" than me.

You similarly are more expert than me when it comes to skull-diggery things. Actually, what do you do with all the skulls you collect???

I keep them...obviously :D Seriously though I like to look at them and compare them with other skulls, take measurements of them, look at the wear on the teeth. Basically I try and get as much information out of a skull as possible . Then when I get bored of that game I give them a reference number and either display them or box them away for later comparisons.


Yes I think I can agree that you are more expert than me in the world of programming... (programming, wtf? :D)

[Rlib]

Richard Feynman said: "Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." Only once you realise that nobody really knows do you see that you need to make discoveries for yourself.