When is consensus knowledge based? Distinguishing shared knowledge from mere agreement

摘要: Scientific consensus is widely deferred to in public debates as a social indicator of the existence knowledge. However, it far from clear that such deference always justified. The agreement community researchers contingent fact, and may reach for all kinds reasons, fighting common foe or sharing bias. consensus, by itself, does not necessarily indicate shared knowledge among members community. I address question under what conditions likely fact based. argue be based when best explanation identify three conditions—social calibration, apparent consilience evidence, diversity, being consensus.