Specialist/Generalist Psychology in Life

Sunday thought re the psychology of “generalism”/specialism, breadth/depth, not just in e.g. Medicine, but life. 

We are most of us specialists in life, given modern economics.  Division of labor is a great source of wealth, but also of “knowledge production.” 

Yet, we all see specialists who are expert in their niche, and know little outside of that particular world.  i.e. Specializing can be distorting.  This might be heightened today, but is likely as old as the beginning of civilization (as opposed to hunter/gatherer societies?).  If memory serves this is Allan Bloom’s interpretation of Eryximachus’ speech in the Symposium.

One necessarily sees the world through the methods, concerns, and magnified concentration of one’s specialty.  To use a trivial example, I know few cardiologists over 40 who do not themselves take a statin, regardless of lipids or family history.   Other examples are likely easy to think of.

But, as in Eryxcimachus’ speech, there is also a tendency to see one’s niche everywhere, apply one’s knowledge inappropriately to the wider world.  Further, to assume if one is bright here, one’s opinion simply translates to there, with very little work.

Since we are most of specialists, one remedy may be to try to develop the habits of a lifelong general education; to work to understand other fields more deeply, on their own terms.

On the other hand, but relatedly, the danger of “a little knowledge” is the tendency to think this is adequate.  The generalist might mistakenly think reading one book/article, etc. leads to an understanding of the area.  Trial lawyers who try complex cases – specialists in the courtroom, generalists in knowing about various part of life, industries, etc. – sometimes fall prey to this.  They need to be bright enough to understand the issues at hand, which can lead to an overconfidence in one’s real understanding of the field.  So, while specializing can distort how one sees the world, “generalizing” tends to simplify, flatten, misunderstand without self-awareness.

Every specialist knows this when they hear an outsider discuss their own area of specialization.  It is at best 85% accurate.  Even the best non-M.D.s discussing clinical Medicine to the ear of a physician?  At best an approximation, and typically worse.   In which case, if one recalls this as a specialist, the specializing itself can be a guard against hubris regarding other areas of specialization. 

So, while specializing can distort and “generalizing” can be overconfident in its understanding, can they also tend to correct each other, if one guards against the pitfalls, if one addresses this specialist/generalist psychology with care and humility? 

Might the best thing for the specialist be more general knowledge -- but also vice versa?