Philosophy
The Epistemology of Expertise and the Value of Cognitive Authority
Quick fact
Philosopher Alvin Goldman argues that we can rationally defer to experts even when we cannot evaluate their claims ourselves, as long as we have good reasons to think they are more likely to know the truth than we are, such as their credentials, track record, and lack of obvious bias.
Why this is interesting
When a doctor tells you that you need surgery, or a climate scientist warns of rising temperatures, why do you believe them? You likely don't have the time to verify their claims yourself—yet you accept them. How can that possibly be a rational way to form beliefs?