12 Feb '16 18:26>
In reference to the authority discussion, I never put all my trust in any authority. I tend to judge all claims, even scientific ones and decide for myself whether it stands up to scrutiny and also whether the person claiming it stands up to scrutiny. The science I tend to really trust is either what I can fully understand myself and it ties in to other things I believe I know, or what has been verified and battle tested by many scientists. One could say I put my trust in the 'authority' of the scientific method and scientific process, but even that I have thought long and hard about before accepting too readily and I am well aware of many flaws in it.
In addition, very few decisions I actually make day to day rely on that kind of trust in authority. Rather most of my decisions rely on observation. I trust aeroplanes not because some authority tells me they are safe, but because I know the accident statistics.
In addition, very few decisions I actually make day to day rely on that kind of trust in authority. Rather most of my decisions rely on observation. I trust aeroplanes not because some authority tells me they are safe, but because I know the accident statistics.