Quote Originally Posted by MarcusCole View Post
That is not how it works, in fact if we went with that there would never be any progress. When Galileo postulated the heliocentric model of the Solar system (earth goes round the sun guys) he was in the minority. If we did as you say then we would still follow that model. When the first scientists stated that man made global warming was a real thing they also were in the minority.

It is not about the number of people saying something is true that makes it true but the evidence that is provided. In both cases I have stated the evidence backed the minority view and they became the accepted viewpoint. If it was down to the majority then those religious types teaching that God made everything would still be teaching that as fact.
Uh... yes & no.

You cannot simply accept the majority opinion on anything - because the majority may yet be wrong. (The appeal to majority fallacy.) Also, you should not simply believe an opinion because the person stating it is clever/rich/powerful/etc. (Appeal to authority fallacy = it is what is being said that matters, not who is saying it.)

However, if you consider the arguments that a particular group is making, and consider these versus their vested interests, and how wide & varied the group is, and yet there is still a clear consensus among the group... then perhaps you should be favouring their opinion.