To my simple mind it is not obvious that a successful electrician is an authority on the immortal soul, any more than that a successful military strategist has an ear for music, or an admirable French cook a grasp of the higher mathematics.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Edison critiques unwarranted authority, noting expertise in one field doesn’t grant insight in unrelated ones.
- In plain terms
- Edison says a successful electrician isn’t necessarily an authority on the soul.
- What can you take from it?
- Expertise in one area doesn’t grant expertise in others.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does expertise cross boundaries?
- Who should be believed?
Another view
It underestimates interdisciplinary insight.
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