Questioning Experts and Expertise

This book discusses the role of experts and their expertise in policy decisions, addressing the complexities of the debate on the role of experts in modern democracies. It explores the definitions of expertise, the role of experts in modern democracies, the dilemma of choosing between equally competent and qualified experts, the objectivity of expert judgements, the relationship between experts and novices in polarised social settings, and the conditions on the trustworthiness of experts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 166 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The role of experts and their expertise has assumed paramount importance in the discussions surrounding our post-COVID-19 world. The prevalence of scientific disinformation underscores the critical need for specialized knowledge to address complex social issues. This comprehensive book brings together philosophers, sociologists, and policy experts to explore the nature, scope, and limitations of expert advice in policy decisions. The chapters collected herein delve into fundamental questions that shape the debate on the role of experts. They examine the concept of expertise, its role in modern democracies, the challenges of selecting between equally competent and qualified experts who may disagree, the objectivity of expert judgments, the dynamics between experts and novices in polarized social contexts, and the conditions that contribute to the trustworthiness of experts. These in-depth explorations, conducted by renowned scholars in the field, shed light on the complexities of the issues at hand while providing a roadmap for addressing them. The chapters in this book were originally published in Social Epistemology: A Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Policy.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367752859