This classic paper by Kruger and Dunning, Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments, examines the psychological reasons for the unfortunately common correlation between ignorance and confidence.

We argue that when people are incompetent in the strategies they adopt to achieve success and satisfaction, they suffer a dual burden: Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to realize it. Instead, like Mr. Wheeler, they are left with the mistaken impression that they are doing just fine. As Miller (1993) perceptively observed in the quote that opens this article, and as Charles Darwin (1871) sagely noted over a century ago, "ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge."

(PDF here.)

as Charles Darwin (1871) sagely noted over a century ago, "ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge."

Maybe this explains the bullying confidence exhibited by such folks as Rush Limbaugh, Bill-0 O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck.

or Al Franken, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Michael Moore, Al Gore....

Al Franken, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Michael Moore, Al Gore....

The above group of individuals lack the pre-requisite of being utterly ignorant, and cannot be included in the 1871 observation of Charles Darwin.

utterly? certainly not! but already and so soon (!) an example in the absurd is offered up as proof of the general in the the specific ... LOL

What?

n2sooners, people with high IQs are automatically exempt from the list of incompetent people who can't recognize their incompetent.

So make another list.

Wow, it's really late. I don't even feel like proofing my own comments, but I'll save some other genius the trouble:

n2sooners, people with high IQs are automatically exempt from the list of incompetent people who can't recognize THEY'RE incompetence.

So make another list.

LOL oops again.

"n2sooners, people with high IQs are automatically exempt from the list of incompetent people who can't recognize their INCOMPETENCE."

There. It IS very hard to correct one's own mistakes!

Guys, Kruger and Dunning's research is AMAZING. Everything from self-inflated ego's to the effect of one's incompetence on their peers , IT'S ALL AMAZING.

Thanks Jason!

very true. thus:
- the brightest are the most humblest.
- ignorance is bliss.

No problem, sohil. Thanks for bringing discussion back on topic.

Isn't that just an innate awareness? Something you've always sensed? The loudest smack of defensive desperation so why the grand revelation?