Not long ago, I had the opportunity to have a long conversation with someone who works at the country's largest lecture platform and has created multiple so-called hit courses. During our chat, we discussed things like "What is expertise?" and "What makes a good lecture?" (Recognizing that being an expert doesn't automatically mean you make good lectures, and being a great communicator doesn't always mean you are speaking the truth...) Naturally, this led to learning about how there has recently been a lot of discussion on social media and elsewhere about what an expert really is. Discussing what criteria distinguishes this—whether it's a Degree, License, Career experience, Reputation, or Wealth—we eventually ended up talking about accountability (Accountability).
In modern society, the word 'expert' is used frequently, but we need to reflect deeply on its meaning and the responsibility that comes with it. We should respect the passion of those who strive to earn licenses or degrees, and we must acknowledge everyone's freedom to express their opinions. However, such efforts and freedoms are not the sole criteria that define true expertise. A true expert is someone who takes responsibility for their own words and actions. The reason I deliberately avoid using the term Responsibility here is that Responsibility is a duty tied to obligation, whereas Accountability is the responsibility to answer for and accept the outcomes of one's actions and decisions. All mentions of 'responsibility' below refer to Accountability.
The Difference Between Knowledge Workers and Experts
All knowledge workers require a service mindset, expertise, and communication skills. These are fundamental elements required of everyone, from those who deliver knowledge to those who produce and advance it. To draw an analogy to a restaurant: The person delivering knowledge is like the front-of-house serving staff, and the person producing knowledge and elevating its quality is like the cook. While every role is important, someone who can do it all flawlessly possesses an exceptional value, just like a chef who runs a fine dining restaurant.
In a restaurant, everyone simply needs to fulfill their duties according to their role. When an issue arises with the food, the chef acknowledges it, fixes it, and apologizes. If a mistake happens during service, the floor staff resolves it. In fine dining, the chef comes out personally to explain the dishes and assist with serving, which represents both responsibility and pride in their craft. Likewise, an attitude where each person takes responsibility in their own position is what matters.
Freedom of Expression and Accountability
While everyone has the freedom of expression to voice their thoughts, responsibility also follows those words. While morality can shift depending on the era or culture, accountability is a universal and enduring value. Especially for experts, it is essential to deeply recognize the impact of their words and actions, and to maintain an attitude of acknowledging mistakes and seeking improvement when something is wrong. This is the same reason why cyber wreckers have become a social problem. They have faced criticism for disseminating news or rumors simply for views, regardless of whether it is false, without taking responsibility (such as accurate corrections or apologies) or engaging in review and deliberation.
Here, we can consider what we commonly refer to as a doctoral degree (Ph.D.). Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Here, 'Philosophy' transcends a specific academic field and symbolizes a profound understanding of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, and the accountability that accompanies it. This signifies that someone holding a doctorate must not only possess specialized knowledge, but also deeply deliberate on and take responsibility for the impact that knowledge has on society.
What we truly need is the attitude to accept one's own errors, improve, understand, and engage in discussion. This is precisely what makes an expert a true expert. Experts recognize their limitations, acquire new knowledge, and respect the opinions of others. Furthermore, they put responsible actions into practice, taking into account the social impact of their expertise.
Social Recognition and the Responsibility Behind It
To treat people as experts, we consider socially agreed-upon criteria such as licenses, degrees, career background, and economic success. While these conditions are valuable in themselves, they only hold true meaning when accompanied by the corresponding responsibility. The effort invested in obtaining a license or earning a degree deserves respect, but there must also be a sense of accountability to return the fruits of that effort positively to society. This manifests as an attitude of acknowledging and correcting misinformation when provided, and apologizing when necessary.
Anyone can be wrong at any time. You just need to admit it, fix it, and talk about what went wrong. And then, take responsibility for it. People often resort to the Sour Grapes strategy out of envy and jealousy toward what they do not possess. They demean one another by saying things like, "Those masters and PhDs are just educated fools," or "Those people are just showing off."
Slandering others to protect one's own position or because of what one lacks is cowardly behavior. Everyone has their role, and false facts can simply be corrected. Depending on the perspective, someone might say, "The cup is still half full," while another might say, "The cup is only half empty." However, the fact that "there is 250ml of water in the cup" does not change. (Assuming the cup is 500ml...)
Expertise Perfected by Accountability
What distinguishes experts from non-experts is not simply the abundance or lack of qualifications or knowledge. While licenses and degrees demonstrate effort and passion, it is an attitude of accountability that completes them into true expertise. The reason the commonly used 'Ph.D.' degree references philosophy is also because it emphasizes a deep understanding of knowledge coupled with the accountability to consider the impact that knowledge exerts on society. The recent social tendency to disparage certain professions or industries with labels like 'mere OO technician' is similarly rooted in situations where people fail to uphold their socially defined responsibilities.
We all pursue expertise in our respective fields, and we must maintain an attitude of taking responsibility for the mistakes or errors that arise along the way. This will not only foster personal growth but also enhance trust across society and drive positive change. I hope this serves as an opportunity for all of us to reflect once again on our accountability as experts and deeply contemplate the impact our actions create. Ultimately, I believe that an attitude of taking accountability is what completes expertise, and that such expertise will enrich society even further.