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When we say beware we don’t mean that these folks are bad people or would intentionally mislead you. What we do mean is that they see the world through a narrow viewpoint. That does not make them bad people. It does mean that they can see only ways of solving problems from their narrow point of view. That may not be a good thing unless you’re solving an engineering or math problem or some other scientific endeavor where there is only one, or very few solutions.
What about when you’re solving social problems? Where there are numerous opinions and many ways to solve a problem? Ah, well then you need to surround yourself with as many experts as you can and listen to all of them. And then make your decision.
Academics suffer from the same malady. They are highly educated in only one field and will tend to give you solutions from their point of view. This I saw first hand many years ago when a friend of mine had what he thought was a medical problem. Every doctor he went to had a solution in his specialty. Each and every one. Turns out he did not have a medical problem at all, but an emotional.
So, are experts and academics useful? Of course they are, just be sure to listen to all of their advise and never to trust just one. That’s why those in the medical field will always tell you to, “Get a second opinion.” Good advise that.