Can a Highly Educated Person Be Indoctrinated?
Christopher Hitchens famously suggested that experts could be visualized as mammals, implying that even the most knowledgeable individuals are subject to the same biases and fallibilities as the rest of us. This raises an intriguing question: can someone be both highly educated and indoctrinated into a belief system simultaneously?
It is a common misconception that a Ph.D. or other advanced degrees provide complete immunity against cognitive biases and indoctrination. In reality, even highly educated individuals are prone to the same biases and errors that affect all humans. One study conducted at Dartmouth University over a ten-year period highlighted significant disparities in treatment methods across different regions of the country. This suggests that even medical professionals, despite their extensive education, can be influenced by local preferences and practices, leading to varying outcomes for patients.
Biases in Medical Practice
A Johns Hopkins pathologist, Jonathan Epstein, emphasized the human element in medical practice, stating, “Patients should recognize that a pathologist is a human capable of mistakes.” This candid admission underscores the limitations of even the most educated and experienced professionals. For instance, a study found that only half of the best courses of treatment are prescribed, indicating a significant margin for error in the application of medical knowledge.
Intelligence vs. Smartness
The distinction between being smart and being intelligent is another important consideration. Smartness refers to the accumulation of knowledge, which can be a result of a thorough education. However, intelligence involves the ability to integrate, apply, and critically evaluate that knowledge. A Jeopardy champion, for example, can recall vast amounts of information but may not necessarily possess the analytical skills to understand broader connections and processes. This highlights that even a highly educated person may still be subject to indoctrination if their ability to think critically is limited.
Furthermore, the mere possession of a degree or extensive education does not guarantee intellectual integrity or objectivity. The phrase ‘educated indoctrination’ suggests that the educational system, as a whole, can inadvertently support certain belief systems, particularly in the context of social or religious doctrines. Judging by the number of university graduates who hold far-fetched beliefs, there may be a causal link between education and ideological absorption. This is not to say that all educated individuals are indoctrinated, but the potential for it exists.
Factors Influencing Indoctrination
While some might argue that highly educated individuals are less susceptible to indoctrination due to their worldliness and broader perspectives, it is more likely that worldly experience plays a role rather than the education itself. A person’s background, personal history, and social interactions all contribute to their susceptibility to indoctrination. Education can provide a more critical and analytical framework, but it does not eliminate the possibility of being molded by external influences.
Research into cognitive biases demonstrates that even the most educated individuals are not immune to these biases. Studies have shown that individuals with higher education levels are more prone to confirmation bias, where they seek out information that reinforces their existing beliefs while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them. This phenomenon, known as the echo chamber effect, can lead to a Type 2 error in thinking, where individuals reinforce their beliefs even when presented with evidence to the contrary.
To sum up, while education can provide a robust intellectual foundation, it does not fully protect individuals from the influence of indoctrination. The intersection of education and belief is complex, and the critical thinking skills developed through education are essential to navigate and resist indoctrination effectively.
In conclusion, the answer to whether a highly educated person can also be indoctrinated is a resounding yes. The potential for indoctrination is present in all individuals, regardless of their level of education, and the ability to resist such influences requires a commitment to intellectual humility and continuous critical evaluation of one's own beliefs and biases.