Action in Uncertainty

6Intuition, Expertise and Decision-making

We have already addressed the question of intuition, but we will return to it in this final chapter in the light of its links with expertise. Indeed, the Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the ambiguous role of expertise, which turns out to be the worst and the best of things, depending on how it is used to make or justify decisions. This review of recent or current events will also allow us to return to the notion of uncertainty and its links with expertise. Finally, we will insist on the need to take the environment into account in decision-making and action.

6.1. Intuition and “natural decision-making”

The situation has provided a cue, this cue has given the expert access to information stored in memory and the information provides the answer. Intuition is nothing more and nothing less than recognition (Herbert Simon)¹.

The above quote uses recognition to define intuition as resulting from an emotion generated by the recognition of a situation already lived or reconstituted by the brain from episodes lived or dreamed. Intuition is therefore a judgment, affectively charged, which arises quickly, unconsciously, thanks to global associations². This intuition will dictate a decision or an action without the need to resort to reasoning. For example, among the people who apply for a job, you recognize a profile that evokes a bad experience for you; the dopaminergic neurons will send you a signal, if not of danger, at least of vigilance, ...