Decision making Quote by Daniel Kahneman
““Differences between experts and the public are explained in part by biases in lay judgments, but Slovic draws attention to situations in which the differences reflect a genuine conflict of values. He points out that experts often measure risks by the number of lives (or life-years) lost, while the public draws finer distinctions, for example between “good deaths” and “bad deaths,” or between random accidental fatalities and deaths that occur in the course of voluntary activities such as skiing. These legitimate distinctions are often ignored in statistics that merely count cases. Slovic argues from such observations that the public has a richer conception of risks than the experts do. Consequently, he strongly resists the view that the experts should rule, and that their opinions should be accepted without question when they conflict with the opinions and wishes of other citizens. When experts and the public disagree on their priorities, he says, “Each side must respect the insights and intelligence of the other.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Risk Perception and Public Policy, 2008
Experts and the public view risks differently; the public values nuanced distinctions that experts often overlook.
In simple terms: Public sees risk in richer detail than experts.
Key Takeaway
Consider public values in risk decisions.
Themes
risk perception
expert vs public
values
bias
communication
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
policy
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public health campaigns
- environmental regulation
- risk communication
Key Concepts
risk assessment
public policy
ethical decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- How can experts integrate public values?
- When should public opinion override expert analysis?
A Different Perspective
Experts may lack contextual insight.
