One way to find out what was going on in the past is to look at suggestions for reform. It is not infallible - it seems that conduct books which advised young men not to spit in food to claim their share of a banquet were intended as humour. Still I read with interest Roger Bacon's 'Four general causes of human ignorance' which are:
1. using weak and unreliable authority (sources)
2. custom and habit
3. prejudice (or following the crowd)
4. concealing one's own ignorance with an exhibition of apparent wisdom
The causes formed part of his broader proposal for the reform of the medieval universities. It would seem medieval scholars were by no means immune to academic fault (although we have to factor in Bacon's generally combative personality).
Number four made me chuckle - if we banned that one the entire modern university system would collapse.
Being a chancer part of the job description - it is a matter of degree...
At least with the Magician, you sort of know he's going to try to pull a fast one. But then there are people we're supposed to be able to trust - educators, politicians, religious leaders, etc. - who might as well be in the same business as the Magician. I love your posts!
ReplyDeleteAll theatrical professions where you are judged on your 'performance'. The paradox is that if you reveal your infallibility the audience cease to trust you. I think there's a continuum - from cynical deception to satisfying audience expectations that you appear to know your stuff. And women often suffer from imposter syndrome - we do know our stuff but worry it/we are not good enough. Thanks for encouraging my posts - you have been so kind in dropping by so often.
DeleteBacon's four thoughts are now distilled down to one. Folk who don't get on can be traced back to inability to make decisions in a beneficial way. Love your post.
ReplyDeleteI think you should take my lecture. I have said it before you are an excellent teacher.
DeleteI admit that sometimes I had to appear to know my stuff too. Especially when I hadn't time to prepare my lessons properly. But I al always revisited those lessons with some "extra"juicy facts :)
ReplyDeleteI think you understand the teachers life. And yes I have found that it is good to introduce some juicy/controversial bits.
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