General Discussion

Much of society appears to attribute a great deal of all-around intelligence to individuals in certain fields. Doctors, engineers, lawyers, and theoretical scientists all seem to get credit for being generally brilliant, when, in fact, they probably aren't. I find this to be especially true in the applied science fields (doctors and engineers are two prime examples). I'm an electrical engineer, and when I tell people that, I start getting asked my opinions on many things because the presumption is anyone who has an engineering degree must be smart. Naturally, in my case, that's true , but the assumption is misguided.

It's true that engineers, doctors, and lawyers do get quite a bit of education, but it is often very specific education. If you come to me with questions about satellite communications, I will be a better resource for answers than some guy off the street (at least I'd better be). But that does not make me an expert on climate science, evolution, or vaccination. There are very smart individuals in all these fields who do branch out past their particular fields of study and are very knowledgeable on a wide range of topics. If they apply the rigor required to get through the schooling for their particular field to everyday knowledge, they will likely be able to learn a great deal because they have "learned how to to learn."

But many in these fields do nothing of the kind. They may know everything there is to know about their field but, since that is where their interests lie, they are wholly ignorant concerning anything outside that field. I work with some engineers who can absolutely dazzle with their breadth of knowledge and quick command of engineering facts. Unfortunately, once they leave the office, they are barely fit to tie their own shoes.

There is also a bias within the profession that, because we are highly educated, we have a highly honed ability to reason through that which we don't already know. But without putting in the time and effort to learn the facts about a particular topic, that particular line of thinking is typically absurdly wrong.

This is why you get doctors ignorantly commenting on climate change. The skills learned to be a brain surgeon are wonderful, but it doesn't make one a climate scientist no matter how much one thinks one knows. Doctors learn to apply biology, but that doesn't mean they necessarily understand the theories behind it, which is why we get doctors who are profoundly ignorant about evolution. Electrical engineers study quite a bit of physics and even some chemistry, but much of the theory behind it is lost to them. The goal is to learn to apply it, not necessarily master the theory. Only those willing to take the time will learn how the theories under gird what is seen in practice.

So Dr. Carson might very well be a brilliant brain surgeon. So what? That means nothing when it comes to his understanding of evolution or climate change. In fact, given how much intense and specific work I'm sure it took to become a brain surgeon, I'd be skeptical of his knowledge on most things that don't relate to brain surgery and some general medicine.