The authority of the “arbiters” in society are of upmost importance. Unfortunately for all of us, there is quite the case to be made that science, academia, and media are more driven by external rewards than objective truth.

Profit drives these institutions. Media profits from sensationalism, science by personal noterioty, and academia by status. There is certainly more to it, but that is the long and short of it.

These institutions, driven by their own external motivations, have undermined our ability to trust them.

A few bad apples have ruined everyone’s trust in these establishments, which I can agree, are mostly objective and trustworthy.

But one tuition scandal ruins a reputation. One dishonest write up destroys credibility forever. And the dishonest reporting on a scientific study can trigger skepticism for decades.

There are no easy solutions to these problems, except for these institutions to maintain rigorous levels of credibility and to ensure a single bad apples doesn’t ruin their bunch.