Deutsch's Role-Model Fallacy: The Reality of Self-Confidence

On April 22nd, 2025, physicist and philosopher David Deutsch shared an insight on X that caught my attention:

Self-esteem, self-confidence and other such attitudes in young people are not increased by being shown someone who is "like oneself" (by some criterion society happens to use at a given moment for prejudging people) being successful

This perspective resonated deeply with me (especially through the lens of Popperian epistemology), prompting me to expand on these ideas in a thread that Deutsch later reposted:

Self-confidence grows from improving your own ability to solve problems that matter to you. It's the feeling that comes after you adapt and overcome, not from watching someone else do it.

Sure, seeing them might feel good! Maybe it sparks hope, like thinking, okay, that goal isn't impossible. Or it gives motivation, making you want to try harder yourself. Those feelings are real and useful.

But that's different from self-confidence. That feels earned, like trust in your own ability to handle things. You build that trust by trying, feeling the sting when your approach fails, figuring out your fix, and feeling the relief when your way finally works. And that internal proof is not transferable by just watching.

This isn't merely semantic nitpicking, it impacts society at fundamental levels. Take my country, Malaysia: Mahathir as PM funneled billions to cronies through Government-Linked Companies, justifying it as "creating role models" for other Malays.

The logic was that seeing these successful businesspeople would somehow transfer confidence to others. But, that's not how genuine capability and self-confidence develops. His rationale was fundamentally flawed, yet it justified massive corruption that's still harming Malaysia's economy today.

This pattern repeats across developing nations. Leadership using "inspirational examples" as cover for nepotism and cronyism, while failing to create environments where citizens can develop actual problem-solving skills and earned confidence.

Note:

I hereby, personally declare, that it is not impossible for me to be completely wrong and for Deutsch to change his views in this specific matter by the time you’re reading this.