On 19/01/07, Marc Riddell michaeldavid86@comcast.net wrote:
What is your definition of an "expert"? Please, for now, try to resist responding to the others' answers, simply state your own.
My first approximation, off the top of my head: Someone who knows their given field and can show they are regarded as someone who knows said field.
The second part is of some importance. Cranks are often highly-credentialed but their crankery is not respected even if other things they know are. e.g. William Shockley, the usually-credited inventor of the transistor, knew all about electronics, but his work on racial differences in intelligence is considerably less regarded.
- d.