You appear to be responding to a different point than the one Robin was making in the original post.
Robin's post centers on the "intellectually nutritious" metaphor (and has nothing to do with "difficulty of explaining"). Your reply conflates that with some argument about reverence for particular authorities, which Robin isn't making except insofar as it is implied by his use of the word "classic".
I don't think I am. He says, "You need to read the classics." I say, "No, I just need to know their key insights."
I further say that people who think you need to read a particular classic are typically wrong, as others have assimilated its insights -- and become capable of discussing the related issues -- without having to read it.
How is that not responsive? Where do I make an issue of reverence for authorities?
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