Trustworthy insight

Insight is an increased understanding of matter at hand. It comes from connecting the dots and recognising patterns by interpreting data and information. This then creates new knowledge, or reinforces past knowledge, or both.

Today, more than ever, we have tools that enable us to short-cut the whole process.

We can ask a question and receive an answer immediately. If it is within our own subject matter expertise, then we can judge how accurate (or inaccurate!) the answer is. But if it is not, then we ought to ensure validity of answer with different means.

One way to do so is check the provenance of knowledge and insight offered. Another is cross-checking with multiple sources, ideally of different kind. Third is understanding the process that yields the answer.

Failing to apply this very basic validity procedure opens us up to confusion and misinformation, instead of erudition and informedness. And that is quite the opposite of what most of us wishes to achieve.