Non-specialists have interesting things to tell us

Le Regard Libre N° 76 - Jonas Follonier

We journalists have a bad habit of interviewing THE specialist in a field, believing this to be an assurance of quality. This shortcoming, like all shortcomings, is the flip side of a quality: that of shedding light on a theme with the help of individuals who have something to say about it, since their discourse on the subject is recognized. And yet, experts are often not the only ones who can - and want to - shed relevant light on a theme. The interestingness of a statement is not measured solely, and not always, by how «recognized» it is. In fact, the opposite is sometimes true: some experts are so flat or so obscure that their words are of absolutely no value to the public. And there are cases where their words are so well known that they become, for all intents and purposes, «re-recognized».

Talking with a non-expert gives you the chance to discover a fresh perspective. Provided, of course, that the point of view in question is based on facts. But sometimes all it takes is a curious, poetic, or philosophical mind—one capable of drawing connections, making deductions, pointing out contradictions, or bringing clarity to a discussion—for the magic to happen. Singer-songwriter William Sheller sharing his perspective on the current era through the lens of lost freedoms—this delighted many readers following his interview published in our previous issue. This was also the case in earlier issues, with writer Jonathan Coe discussing British politics and his colleague Frédéric Beigbeder addressing what he calls «comico-populism» or the «humor imperative.».

This doesn’t just apply to interviews with public figures speaking on topics outside their usual areas of expertise: ordinary people are just as much a source of inspiration for writing an article or sparking new ideas. It is up to us, time and again, to keep alive this original humanism, which consists, on the one hand, of viewing truth and culture from a broad perspective that brings together the various arts and disciplines, and, on the other hand, of recognizing that every human being can contribute to this ongoing discovery of the world. Otherwise, the mutual misunderstanding between those deemed knowledgeable and those deemed ignorant will deepen until it becomes a grave. And hatred and indifference—the poisons of nations—will ultimately prevail.

At the last editorial meeting for *Le Regard Libre*, a colleague mentioned to me that NASA had not been convinced by the idea of a trip to the Moon proposed by an in-house specialist, but rather by a non-specialist. That wouldn't be surprising. Non-experts bring a sense of hope. No one would attempt an action or thought that they know—or believe—is doomed to fail.

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Drawing: © Nathanaël Schmid for Le Regard Libre