Abstract

We have access to unprecedented amounts of information. It has never been easier to look into a matter for yourself, to become informed, and to do your own research. Given this, many see the refusal to do so as lazy, intellectually defective, and even dangerous. Those who don’t do their own research, and think for themselves, are accused of having blind trust and are labeled ‘sheeple’ – people merely following the opinions of others. For instance, think about common reactions to people who believe in the effectiveness of vaccines or that human activity is responsible for climate change but simply based on what they’ve heard on the news or from other people. Often, doing your own research is seen as the superior way to answer one’s questions, if not the only responsible way. However, I think that such a view gets things exactly backwards. It’s perfectly fine not to do your own research. There’s nothing wrong with letting others do your thinking for you. In fact, it is the insistence on thinking for yourself that is intellectually defective and dangerous.