Comments on: The confidence of ignorance (Darwin) http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/ A web site by Joshua Sowin that addresses culture, books, technology, ecology, religion, and other topics. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:20:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mark http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/comment-page-1/#comment-138925 Mark Mon, 17 May 2010 06:59:37 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/#comment-138925 Quite the beautiful riposte by Zach and I could not agree more. The wonders of confidence that brim from the ignorant never fail to leave me both perplexed and disdained. And Steve, thanks for the simply stunning cursory insight. Quite the beautiful riposte by Zach and I could not agree more. The wonders of confidence that brim from the ignorant never fail to leave me both perplexed and disdained.

And Steve, thanks for the simply stunning cursory insight.

]]> By: Zach http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/comment-page-1/#comment-137420 Zach Mon, 10 May 2010 13:00:21 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/#comment-137420 It's called the Dunning-Kruger effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect The study demonstrates that incompetent individuals tend to overestimate their level of skill. Amusingly, poster #1 provided a perfectly exemplary example! It’s called the Dunning-Kruger effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

The study demonstrates that incompetent individuals tend to overestimate their level of skill. Amusingly, poster #1 provided a perfectly exemplary example!

]]> By: Josh Sowin http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/comment-page-1/#comment-119409 Josh Sowin Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:55:25 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/#comment-119409 It can happen both ways. A person who is truly well-educated will know how many disciplines they know very little about — and thus willing to admit "I don't really know," even if they give an opinion. In my experience, it's the ignorant who show the most confidence, even when they cannot back up their assertions. It especially applies when people are inside a mass movement, such as an ideology or religion. It can happen both ways. A person who is truly well-educated will know how many disciplines they know very little about — and thus willing to admit “I don’t really know,” even if they give an opinion.

In my experience, it’s the ignorant who show the most confidence, even when they cannot back up their assertions. It especially applies when people are inside a mass movement, such as an ideology or religion.

]]> By: Steve Doetsch http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/comment-page-1/#comment-119408 Steve Doetsch Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:48:50 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/05/12/the-confidence-of-ignorance-darwin/#comment-119408 This quote is so inverted and upside down I'm surprised! Ignorance begets confidence, and that's what leads to positive assertion, no doubt, but its the "well educated" who can so often be the most ignorant. How? By thinking they know everything! They are not aware of their ignorance. It is the ignorance of the graduate, not the ignorance of the unschooled, that is most dangerous because it is an ignorance of hubris. This quote is so inverted and upside down I’m surprised! Ignorance begets confidence, and that’s what leads to positive assertion, no doubt, but its the “well educated” who can so often be the most ignorant. How? By thinking they know everything! They are not aware of their ignorance. It is the ignorance of the graduate, not the ignorance of the unschooled, that is most dangerous because it is an ignorance of hubris.

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