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> Appeal to authority rather than logic, that's how "analytical" or engineers think. This describes a large fraction of engineers I've worked with. I think the
by btrettel 7y ago
> Appeal to authority rather than logic, that's how "analytical" or engineers think.
This describes a large fraction of engineers I've worked with. I think the popular media would portray this as "analytical" when it's anything but.
I don't think this has much to do with the training of engineers and instead reflects natural tendencies of most people to take the easy route. "Passing the buck" to some established authority is simply easier. And it works most of the time. Unfortunately the "appeal to authority" types often drown out the actual analytical folks, so when there's a problem with the authorities, little happens.
- crimsonalucard 7y agoYeah you're right. I probably framed it too narrowly against engineers. A better way to put it is people are biased creatures and engineers are no different even though there is a tendency to believe they are more analytical or creative. I disagree with you on the "easy route" though. I don't think engineers appeal to authority because of an intentional decision to take an easy route. I think engineers do it because it's just an inmate bias people have. People's identities and beliefs are dictated more by emotion and pre-existing notions rather then logic.
- btrettel 7y ago> I disagree with you on the "easy route" though. I don't think engineers appeal to authority because of an intentional decision to take an easy route. I think engineers do it because it's just an inmate bias people have. People's identities and beliefs are dictated more by emotion and pre-existing notions rather then logic. This is a strong possibility. In retrospect, I don't actually know the reasons why people defer to authorities so often and was speculating. I'd be very interested in the reasons why and how, if possible, we could influence people to be more critical.