7 ms·

We must discern ideas by the merit of the idea, yes? Otherwise, Argument Against Authority ;)

• gwern 12y ago
  No. Expertise and authority is an excellent way to evaluate claims. In this case, monks and holy men have espoused so many crazy and harmful ideas over the years that knowing they have endorsed [all kinds of fasting, not just the ones being evaluated scientifically] is not useful because their endorsements have no connection to the truth.