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but appeal to popularity/authority is not the proper way to validate a hypothesis no matter what
by dionian 8y ago
but appeal to popularity/authority is not the proper way to validate a hypothesis no matter what
- mikeash 8y agoWhat does “proper” mean? Because it’s certainly the only practical way to validate most hypotheses. Sure, I could spend a couple of decades independently evaluating the effectiveness and safety of the flu vaccine, but in the meantime I’m going to have to decide whether to wear my seat belt and whether these apples I bought are safe to eat and how often to water my plants and so many more things. Appeal to authority is necessarily the way most people validate most hypotheses they depend on.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- brador 8y agoNor is appealing to the absence of popularity/authority. Step 1 of the scientific method is a plausible hypothesis.