In general, when I embark on an understanding-and-critique task, I find myself in one of four situations. Sometimes the people I am reading are not as smart as I am and have not done their homework: they are my lawful prey. Sometimes the people are smarter than I am but have not done their homework: I critique them by doing yet more homework. Sometimes the people have done their homework but are not as smart as I am: I critique them by working hard to be smart. And sometimes the people are smarter than I am and [have] done their homework. Then I have a very hard task indeed…
Robust Analysis
Readings and occasional commentary
There is only “doing your homework.” “I am smart” is a flawed mental state.
I remember hearing someone say to Michael Jordan, “You make a lot of lucky shots.” To which Jordan replied, “It’s amazing how lucky you get when you practice all the time.”
That and beware the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Dunning-Kruger! My favorite.
A good band name: The Dunning-Kruger Effect.