Why We Think We’re So Smart That We Can Ignore History, Science, and Philosophy

In an age dominated by rapid technological advancement and instant gratification, we often find ourselves seduced by the illusion of intellectual superiority. Social media shock shots cherry-picked “facts,” and the rush to form opinions can give us the false confidence that we no longer need the lessons of history, the rigor of science, or the depth of philosophy.

Have we become so delusional about our intelligence that we have no room for reality or truth? Relativism has a place, but not to the degree we have reached. When we refuse to use history as a guide, we are doomed to repeat it and see it happening daily. Cancel Culture has become an epidemic in the world today. We would just as soon ignore opposition rather than try to compromise, which is the height of ignorance and ego.

But this dismissal of foundational knowledge isn’t just arrogant; it’s dangerously short-sighted.

Here are ten reasons why I believe we often overestimate our intellectual independence and dismiss the wisdom of the past.

1. The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Action

The less we know, the more confident we feel about what we know. This cognitive bias closes our eyes to the complexities of history, science, and philosophy, leading to oversimplified interpretations and dismissals. I continue to point out that we do not live in a binary world where everything is black and white. While this may seem an easy way to answer all the problems in the world, it only makes them more complex and resistant to change.

2. Overreliance on Technology

We confuse access to information with understanding. Google and AI may provide answers but can’t replace the critical thinking developed by studying foundational disciplines. Many people today don’t want to take the time to think critically about anything, but by taking this stand, we give our thinking to others so they can tell us what to think. Access to zettabytes of data doesn’t make us more intelligent if we don’t understand how to look at it with critical thinking; it just means we have a lot of junk, opinions, useless facts, falsehoods, and other garbage in one colossal cesspool.

3. Historical Amnesia

We assume modernity has solved all past problems, forgetting that many societal challenges — inequality, conflict, and ethical dilemmas — are cyclical and require historical context to address effectively. Not only do we have amnesia, but politicians and ultraconservatives are trying to rewrite history to eliminate many of the parts of it that we should be embarrassed about.

4. The Rise of Pop Science and Pseudo-Philosophy

Science and philosophy are reduced to soundbites and memes, stripping them of their nuance and depth. This superficial engagement leads to the mistaken belief that deeper exploration is unnecessary. Like the rise of pop business executives, we have seen the rise of popular scientists and philosophers. Like the pop business executives, this does not always mean good things for society. We have diluted the word expert to say, I know something about an area, but I can talk more loudly than anyone else and dazzle people with useless data.

One that comes to mind is a set of recent advertisements telling people that have been using products with Benzol Peroxide will cause cancer when it breaks down to Benzine. When you dig into the facts, you find that one study broke down after 17 days of being stored at over 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Another study indicated that it broke down after being stored in an area at over 158 degrees Fahrenheit for 17 hours. I don’t know about you, but I don’t keep that temperature anywhere in my house except the oven.

5. The Myth of Progress

We believe we’re inherently smarter than previous generations, ignoring that progress is built on the cumulative efforts of those who came before us. Most of the innovations we see today are improvements or redevelopments of existing products by improving their work or finding new uses in other industries. Nothing is wrong with this, but it is also not original or new, so quit taking all the credit for it.

6. Rejection of Expertise

In an age of democratized knowledge, there’s a growing tendency to equate opinion with expert analysis, devaluing the years of study and experience professionals bring. This comes from the adage of “Fake it until you make it” mentality. If I know enough to bluff enough people, I can move on and leave the mess behind me.

7. The Allure of Instant Gratification

Critical thinking, like studying history or philosophy, requires patience. Many prefer quick answers to complex questions, leading to the dismissal of these fields as irrelevant. We all want instant answers and cures for all our ills, real or imagined. For example, I have been dealing with physical problems for the last 6 months, but no matter how much I want answers, medicine has not found one for me yet. But by the grace of God, I can hang on and live with it for now.

8. Fear of Complexity

History, science, and philosophy often reveal uncomfortable truths about humanity and the world. It’s easier to ignore them than to confront and grapple with these complexities. Confronting complexities requires courage, transparency, trust, and honesty, all lacking in much of society today.

9. Confirmation Bias

We seek information that supports our existing beliefs and dismiss evidence to the contrary, undermining the open-mindedness required to learn from the past. I will fight this until the day that I am called home. Having an open-minded approach allows us to build a Protopian future where things improve a little each day. If we keep being drawn back by biases that are negative, false, or even sheer lunacy, then we have little hope for the future, but I still have faith there are enough open-minded thinkers left in the world to save us all.

10. Cultural Individualism

Modern culture often emphasizes personal experience and autonomy over collective wisdom, leading to the undervaluation of shared human knowledge and traditions. This is a double-edged sword because when we are stuck in traditions that are not evolving, our biases also remain in the past. When we have strong negative biases in any area, we say our superiority is supreme over everyone else; hence, do as I say, not as I do.

Our Presidential elections have become a tradition of big money buying the presidency. With Trump, Elon Musk, and others at the helm in 2025, we will see the adverse effects this has on the general population. None consider improving the lower and middle classes because this will weaken their positions. Hence, the history of repression will return.

Conclusion

Ignoring history, science, and philosophy isn’t just an intellectual failing; it’s a risk to our future. These disciplines aren’t relics of the past but essential tools for understanding our present and shaping a better tomorrow. Recognizing our intellectual hubris is the first step in reclaiming the wisdom we easily dismiss.