Talk:Expertise

This is incorrect for two reasons:

1) A person can have expertise and not influence others. For example, one may be an expert in statistics and choose to never influence anyone to move to his or her level of expertise in that field. He or she is still an expert.

2) There must be a distinction between knowing and doing. Power is only exercised in doing. Knowledge is required to do, but power is in doing, not knowing.

Violence is something that is done. A violent act is doing. Wealth is not doing, but it does provide the resources to do or exercise power. Knowledge is not doing, but it does provide the capacity to do or exercise power.

For more detailed information see these links from the HyperAdvance Blog:

• Expertise
• The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence
• Starting to Dance
• Colbert's Definition of Social Acceptance

I agree but I think your argument can still be refined. I understand what you are getting at - it is important to view knowledge as a resource which we tap, or draw from, in our lives; however, it alone does not give you power. In general, I avoid the word power. While it is present in underlying conversations and actions it's amazing to see how complex it is. A small example - I enjoy watching a debate where the silent person has more power than the person exploding. Also, power often switches rapidly.

I think knowledge is something to respect but I don't like the knowledge - power leap. Too many people in life go on power trips from becoming too wrapped up in something or a position they hold - expertise can be one.

I'd rather view knowledge in direct relationship with responsibility, not power, but unfortunately, that still is not the case.-Tom Kelly (Talk) 12:57, 7 January 2007 (CST)