Programmers are engineers in a complex domain with many opportunities for establishing new best practices. A big part of their job is to analyze how complex sys

Programmers are engineers in a complex domain with many opportunities for establishing new best practices. A big part of their job is to analyze how complex systems function, and design changes to those systems that achieve a desired result. The belief that they have a simple answer is a result of applying their engineering skills to a domain that they understand poorly but think they know well; this misalignment is due to the use of subtly inaccurate metaphors and generalizations, e.g. classical mechanics. Taking their simple answer and methodically explaining why it’s incorrect efficiently develops their knowledge. So this hubris is adaptive — it allows them to build their knowledge in a domain quickly. Some might even do it intentionally, since they know the Internet can’t bear to leave an error uncorrected. ;-)