Ultracrepidarianism
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An ultracrepidarian is someone who exhibits ultracrepidarianism, or a tendency to make authoritative pronouncements in matters above their level of knowledge. Often, those pronouncements fall entirely outside the ultracrepidarian's realm of legitimate expertise.
[edit] Origin
Pliny (the elder) records the Greek artist Apelles' willingness to accept a cobbler's criticism of his rendering of a sandal, but rejection of other artistic advice, saying, "sutor, ne ultra crepidam," or, "shoemaker, not above the sandal."
A plain English adage, "cobbler, stick to your last," means essentially the same thing; last, in this case, is the mold a shoe is formed around.
[edit] Examples
- Kary Mullis
- Linus Pauling
- Michio Kaku
- Ray Kurzweil
- Pierre-Marie Robitaille
- Mike Bara
- Shills and/or experts for hire, such as S. Fred Singer or the late Frederick Seitz, also tend to fall into this category.