“When experts are wrong, it's often because they're experts on an earlier version of the world”
— Paul Graham
Simplified Meaning:
Experts sometimes make mistakes because they base their knowledge on older information. For instance, consider a doctor from 50 years ago who was an expert in treating diseases with the technology available at that time. If the same doctor tried to treat a modern patient without updating their knowledge about the latest medical advancements, their advice might be incorrect. This happens because the world and its knowledge are always changing and improving. In another example, think of how people used to navigate with paper maps. A map expert from 20 years ago might be incredibly skilled with those, but today we rely on GPS technology. If that expert insists on using only paper maps, they might lead people the wrong way because their expertise is outdated. To avoid this in our lives, it's important to keep learning and stay updated with new information. By being open to change and new ideas, we can make better decisions and avoid mistakes that come from relying too much on old knowledge. It's like updating your phone’s software to make sure it runs smoothly with the newest apps and features.