On Facebook, a friend posed the question "how do I know my information is correct...?" This is a crucial question, one that deserves careful thought. Without downplaying the role of careful research and formal skills in evaluating arguments and fallacies, I have a couple of rules of thumb. The first of these is "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".
For instance, the claims of quantum mechanics are quite extraordinary. If it were not for the fact that its predictions are so precise and reproducible, I'm confident we'd see greater scepticism among physicists. On the other hand, most of us have been tempted at one point or another by some sort of conspiracy theory. I certainly have. How should we proceed?
Of course, conspiracies do happen. But we should require extraordinary evidence before we grant creedence to their sensational claims. Today's allegations of massively rigged elections or human-trafficking pedophile rings among the Democratic political elite simply do not have that sort of extraordinary evidence. Unless such irrefutable evidence emerges, we should reject them and move on.
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